TIM KRUL admits Newcastle's players will have to be "real men" as they attempt to turn around their dreadful start to the season.
The Magpies crashed out of the Capital One Cup as they lost to Sheffield Wednesday last night, and head into the weekend in 19th position in the table and without a Premier League win to their name.
Things are unlikely to get any easier when they entertain Chelsea on Saturday evening, and Krul admits it is imperative that he and his team-mates stand up to be counted despite the pressure that is mounting around them.
"Everybody has to look at themselves in the mirror and ask if they gave everything (against Sheffield Wednesday)," said Krul.
"If not, they have to start straight away, because what we are doing at the moment is really not good enough. A couple of players put in good performances, but there were also some really bad ones.
"Everybody needs to grow now. We need to come out and show we are real men. Chelsea and Manchester City are two massive games, and we have to show that we've got the fight for it."
Newcastle were booed from the field at both the half-time and full-time whistles against Wednesday, and while Krul is urging the Newcastle fans to get behind the team on Saturday, he admits that he and his team-mates have to start giving the supporters something to shout about.
"We have to try and turn it around on Saturday against Chelsea, with 50,000 Geordies being that extra man that we really need right now," he added, in an interview with Newcastle's official website. "Hopefully they will give us the confidence and lift we need.
"We need them behind us, but we need to show them something too and give them something to shout about. It's a two-way street.
"Saturday is a new game and we have to show the fans fight and passion, and everybody needs to put in a proper performance."
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