NEWCASTLE United midfielder Gary Speed last night insisted: "There's no crisis here.''

Speed's declaration came in the wake of comments attributed to teammate Laurent Robert, claiming United are a club in crisis.

But Welsh international Speed maintained: "I think Laurent has been misquoted.

"I don't think he would say anything like that. He's said to all the lads that he said nothing like that.''

United, who clinched a Champions' League place by finishing fourth in the Premiership last season, hoisted themselves out of the bottom three with their 2-0 home derby victory over Sunderland a week ago.

And despite Tuesday's 1-0 Champions' League defeat by Feyenoord at St. James' Park, Speed stressed: "The team spirit is good.''

The Magpies face top-flight new boys Birmingham City at St. Andrews today before embarking for next Tuesday's daunting visit to Juventus.

And Speed is adamant that the Premiership fixture is a higher priority than Matchday Three in Europe.

"This is the bread and butter,'' said Speed. "The main thing is to get results in the Premiership so that next year we can go back into the Champions' League.

"The Birmingham game is just as important, if not more important, than the Juventus game. Our minds will not be on Juventus at Birmingham in any way at all.

"We've only played six games in the league this season and if we win at Birmingham, we'll be up in the top half.

"I don't know what all the fuss is about. We have enough quality in the side to push up the league. It doesn't matter where you're sitting with six games gone; it's where you are with six games to go.

"Every team has a bad spell and hopefully we've had ours. It's far from the truth to say it's a crisis. We have too many good players for that to happen.

"A top-four spot is still on this season - anything is possible.

"Arsenal are top and I think they're a fantastic team. I can't see anyone touching them at the moment. They are fabulous to watch on TV. They have so much pace going forward it's unbelievable.

"But at this stage of the season, we just have to think about ourselves and getting enough points to be in contention for a top-four place in the new year.''

Speed today confronts Wales colleague Robbie Savage, who has a midfield reputation to match his surname.

"Robbie epitomises how hard Birmingham work,'' said Speed. "I know Mark Bowen, the first-team coach there, from our days together in the Wales squad. I've every admiration for the way Birmingham have started the season.

"We know it will be hard there. We've lost there twice in the League Cup in recent seasons.'