MO DIAME claims Newcastle United have an edge over some of their relegation rivals because they always knew they would be fighting in the bottom half of the Premier League this season.

While the likes of West Ham United and Southampton might be surprised to find themselves scrapping to remain in the top-flight, Newcastle’s players went into the current campaign anticipating a battle for survival in the wake of last season’s promotion from the Championship.

Rafael Benitez has always admitted that avoiding relegation is the number one priority this term, and even when his side was flirting with the European places at the start of the season, the Magpies manager always warned there would be difficult times ahead.

Newcastle went eight home games without claiming a victory between October and February, but there was no sense of panic despite the club’s slide down the table.

And with the recent wins over Manchester United and Southampton having lifted the Magpies four points clear of the drop zone, Diame feels his team-mates’ mind-set has enabled them to keep things on an even keel.

“At the start of every season, you have to have targets,” said the Magpies midfielder. “Our target was clear – we have been working from the very first game to stay in this division.

“There is a real fighting spirit that we have built during this season, just like we did in the Championship last year. I think games like we played against Stoke away or West Ham away – in these games we kept the shape of our team and that allows us to feel strong together.

“It’s helped us a lot, but now we must build from this and just keep going. We have done well so far and we are on track, but still there are eight games left and we need to stay focused and keep working.”

Battling at the wrong end of the table is nothing new to a number of Newcastle’s players, with the likes of Jamaal Lascelles, Paul Dummett, Jonjo Shelvey and Ayoze Perez having been involved when the club tumbled out of the top-flight two seasons ago.

That experience taught those involved some valuable lessons, and Diame is another player with extensive experience of having to keep his head amid the tension and drama of a relegation battle.

The Senegal international battled at the wrong end of the table with Wigan, West Ham and Hull, and has been able to pass on some of his know-how to the younger members of the Newcastle squad who are going through the experience for the first time.

“I know what it is like to fight and stay up,” said Diame. “I did it for three years at Wigan, for two years with Hull, and with West Ham as well.

“I know what it takes, but a lot of players here are still young. We just need to fight, we know our jobs and what the manager expects from us.

“The manager keeps telling us we need to fight to stay in this division because every single team can beat every single other team. It’s about keeping your shape, working hard and making as few mistakes as possible.”

Diame has done all of those things in recent weeks, with his performances in the last four or five matches having forced a major reassessment of his value to the team.

Prior to the middle of December, Diame had made just three league starts with Benitez tending to prefer either Mikel Merino or Isaac Hayden alongside Jonjo Shelvey.

However, since returning to the team for the home defeat to Everton shortly before Christmas, Diame has started 12 of Newcastle’s last 14 matches, with his energy and athleticism making him an extremely valuable asset at the heart of midfield.

His distribution has also improved, and he has even weighed in with important goals against West Ham and Crystal Palace to aid his side’s survival battle.

“Is the last month or so as well as I’ve played in the Premier League? I think it might be,” he said. “Playing week in and week out helps a lot. When you play three or four games in a row, you have extra power in the game and more fitness.

“That helps you to be much better. I’m trying to give my best game after game until we reach our target. We’ve got eight games left – eight finals.”

Newcastle play the first of those ‘finals’ on Saturday when relegation rivals Huddersfield Town visit St James’ Park.

Having been given some time off after their training break in Spain, the Magpies’ players will be back on the training ground this morning preparing for the visit of the Terriers.

“When you’ve got a long break like we’ve had, then it is always important to win before you go away,” said Diame. “The mood is now very good and we have gone to Spain and worked well, just as we have done since the beginning of the season. Let’s see if we can get another big win in what is a final for us against Huddersfield.”