Newcastle United winger Jonas Gutierrez is grateful to Argentina coach Diego Maradona for standing by him while he played in the Championship last season.

The Newcastle flier feared for his place in the Argentina team when the Toon were relegated last summer.

He said: "Diego's support was very important for me. The team had just gone down to the Championship and they didn't want to loan me out to anyone.

"I thought I'd have a real job making the squad but when I was called up for the friendly with Russia he told me not to worry.

"He said what mattered was how I was playing and not the league I was playing in. That really helped."