NEWCASTLE UNITED skipper Fabricio Coloccini has refused to admit defeat in the fight against relegation, even though Sunderland could condemn their Tyne-Wear rivals to the Championship tomorrow evening.

Coloccini was a frustrated observer at Villa Park on Saturday, the same setting where he was part of a Magpies team which lost Premier League status seven years ago.

The 34-year-old, who has not played since February 13 because of injury, travelled with the squad in the hope of playing a part behind the scenes in a result that might have edged them closer to safety.

However, after watching Rafael Benitez’s team draw a blank against crisis club Aston Villa, Newcastle’s top-flight future is hanging by a thread.

Coloccini said: "It's really difficult. I tried to return early (from injury), and that's why I got injured again. Now, I just try to help from outside and try to tell them that we have to believe, because we still have a chance. Always, when a chance is there, you have to fight.”

Trying to conjure up some positivity on the training ground is all that Newcastle can do at this stage, although if Sunderland beat Everton at the Stadium of Light tomorrow night it will be immaterial; the Black Cats will stay up with a win.

Even if Sunderland lose, they can survive at their rivals expense by beating Watford on Sunday. And even if they don’t, Newcastle will still have to defeat Tottenham at St James’ Park on Sunday.

Coloccini said: "It was really disappointing at Villa. It was a big chance for us to win, but we didn't create too much. We created a few chances, but couldn't score. We still have a chance and we still believe we can stay in the Premier League.”

Newcastle are unbeaten in their last five matches, winning two, which is an improvement on life before Benitez. That, though, is unlikely to be enough given Sunderland’s better form and performances under Sam Allardyce.

Coloccini said: "We have to think about winning against Tottenham and wait for other results. I thought, before this game, we had a great chance. But we couldn't do it. Now we have one chance, and we have to try to win and stay up.”

The big problem facing Newcastle at the end of the season will be whether Benitez stays on after relegation. He offered no reassurances over his future after the Villa draw, and his three-year contract has a clause enabling him to walk away at the end of the season if Newcastle go down.

There is also likely to be further speculation surrounding Coloccini’s future after his decision last year to turn away from interest from Crystal Palace and sign a new contract. He still has a year remaining on that deal.

Asked if he was still committed to Newcastle, Coloccini said: "Of course. But I'm not thinking about the future, I'm thinking about this present (moment) and keeping Newcastle in the Premier League. I don't look in the future now.”

Benitez is determined not to give up in his attempts to keep Newcastle up, but if Championship football arrive then owner Mike Ashley is likely to demand wholesale changes to a playing staff earning Premier League wages.

Former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer thinks the squad needs a clear-out anyway. Shearer, writing in The Sun, said: “If they are relegated, you can’t attach any blame to Rafa.

“But the saddest thing now is that the club will probably lose him. I will be absolutely amazed if the former manager of Real Madrid, the former manager of Liverpool who won the Champions League, were to be at Newcastle in the Championship and managing at places like Rotherham.

“I hope I am wrong. I would love him to stay. But I am sure he will have offers left, right and centre from clubs in the Premier League and all around Europe.”