DARYL JANMAAT claims a lack of belief has hampered Newcastle United in the first two months of the season, and has urged his team-mates to have “faith in their own ability” when they travel to Manchester City this weekend.

The Magpies are still searching for their first Premier League victory, but last weekend’s spirited 2-2 draw with Chelsea at least represented a marked improvement from the club’s previous three defeats to West Ham, Watford and Sheffield Wednesday.

In establishing a two-goal lead against the reigning champions, Newcastle’s players finally displayed some of the potential that was anticipated after a summer outlay of more than £50m, but which had been almost impossible to discern in many of their previous displays.

With Steve McClaren still bedding in following his appointment as head coach, and some of this summer’s arrivals still finding their feet in the Premier League, there are mitigating factors behind Newcastle’s stuttering start. A less charitable assessment might also note that far too many players have failed to perform.

Janmaat accepts the majority of this season’s performances have not been good enough, but as he looks ahead to Saturday’s trip to the Etihad Stadium, the Dutchman has cited inadequate belief as a key issue in the early weeks of the campaign.

“There have been times this season where we have shown it is in there – we just need to do it on a much more consistent basis now,” said Janmaat, who has been Newcastle’s stand-out performer in a number of this season’s matches. “Maybe everyone has to believe in themselves a little bit more because we have shown we can do it.

“If the belief is there, then I am sure the wins will come too. The next game at Manchester City will be tough, but it’s important we go there with nothing to fear.

“If we play in the same way that we did against Chelsea, then I don’t think anyone would be wanting to play Newcastle, including Manchester City.”

Saturday’s game hardly represents the most obvious setting for Newcastle to end their winless run as they are still to record a league victory at the Etihad.

Alan Pardew’s side pulled off a surprise Capital One Cup win at Manchester City last season, but the Magpies’ last away league success in the blue half of Manchester came at Maine Road in 1990.

Their last four league visits to the Etihad have ended with scorelines of 3-1, 4-0, 4-0 and 5-0, and on the evidence of City’s opening five league games this term, it would have been hard to foresee much changing at the weekend.

Since beating Crystal Palace in mid-September however, City have suffered league defeats to West Ham and Tottenham. They are in Champions League action against Borussia Monchengladbach tonight, and with the likes of Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure and David Silva either injured or not quite at full tilt, might this prove a good time for Newcastle to take them on?

“Manchester City started the season brilliantly, but maybe they are struggling a little bit more at the moment,” said Janmaat. “They got beat against West Ham a couple of weeks ago, and then they lost again against Tottenham.

“We know they are still a very good side, but we have to have the belief that we can do something there. If we have that belief, and play in the same way that we did against Chelsea, then I’m sure we can get a good result.”

The Chelsea performance silenced at least some of the criticisms that were being levelled at the Newcastle squad in the wake of their embarrassing Capital One Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, and having been part of a group of senior players that issued some harsh home truths, Janmaat was pleased with last weekend’s response.

“Hopefully, it has answered a few questions,” he said. “I don’t think there were many people expecting us to get anything, but we did it. I thought we reacted well to everything that had happened and played some good football, especially in the first half.

“Chelsea are a very good side, with some really good players, and you know they are going to press. We were obviously under pressure, but we scored two goals and there is plenty to take out of the game. Before the game, I think we would have taken a point.”