THIS should have been a week of purely focus for Newcastle United. After depressing defeats to Sunderland and Liverpool, the last thing manager Alan Pardew needed was to be dealing with matters he regarded as "outside issues" in his pre-match briefing.

As well as trying to concentrate his deflated players' minds on a crucial trip to West Ham United over the last five days, he has found himself caught up discussing theories of disharmony within the camp.

It was not supposed to have been like this. Even after the poor start to the season, Pardew had felt the acquisitions of five new players from across the English Channel in January would be enough to keep them up.

With three matches remaining, he could still be proved right. The mere fact Newcastle have won just one of their last six Premier League games, however, means concerns about a drop in to the Championship remain strong at the beginning of May.

What Pardew needs to see from his players is unity, a togetherness in the run-in to pour scorn on suggestions that certain players fear other members - including the large French contingent - are more concerned with individual agendas rather than keeping the club up.

Moussa Sissoko, one of ten French players in the Newcastle squad, thinks there is no such split in the camp.

Sissoko said: "I understand what goes on. If there is anything important behind the scenes there is an interpreter to help out. But if there is a problem then we have Yohan Cabaye or Papiss Cisse who speak fluently. They can get a message to us. There isn't any problem with communication, between ourselves, even off the pitch. We get on well. "It is normal that some people have certain groups of friends. It happens in every day life, but there is no problem between us. We all help each other out, we all have a laugh in the changing room. We need that team spirit and that's what's going to get us through."

Pardew admitted yesterday that they have looked in to improving communication between the different languages he has in his team.

Speaking through a translator, the Sissoko said: "I don't think communication is a problem. There are a lot of French guys but we have settled into the squad.

"Us French guys have started to learn English so I don't think that's where the problem lies. When the club goes through difficult times, and we have a bad result on the pitch, one might jump on a certain excuse to say that's the reason, but in reality that is not the case."

The defeat to Liverpool, when the Magpies shipped six goals at St James' Park 13 days after losing to rivals Sunderland, has increased concerns of relegation. Such an outcome would, Sissoko insists, affect every member of the squad.

"After a heavy defeat it does hurt, especially when it is at home as it was with Liverpool," said the £1.8m buy from Toulouse. "The important thing for us is we need to bounce back - and fast. The teams behind us are catching up.

"As professionals we need to go out there and show a different side to the one we did against Liverpool. This week we have worked really hard and we will go to West Ham and give 100 per cent. Hopefully coming back with the three points."

Despite arriving as a midfielder most accustomed to playing centrally in a less advanced role, Sissoko has found himself operating further up the field since his arrival because of injuries to other players.

"I am quite a flexible and adaptable player," said Sissoko. "Most important thing for me is to help the team out wherever I am played. If it's No 10, No 6, or on right hand side, I will go out there and give my best.

"I will fight for the team. Since I have arrived I've played a bit more like a No 10. I like that as I have got a lot of freedom to go to the right or the left if I need to or cover in defence if I have to."

Before choosing to join Newcastle, Sissoko and his advisors had talks with numerous clubs including Sunderland and West Ham. With a smile rising across his face, he said: "I didn't know anything about that. I have an agent and he worries about those things.

"What concerns me is what happens on the football pitch. That's my job. I am proud to be a Newcastle player. Even though we are going through a difficult time I am confident that - if we keep together - this team will get out of the situation and we will finish the season well.

"Then we will go off on holiday, rest up, spend some time with our families and then we will come back, start together stronger next season. We have a great team here with some high quality players and I hope next season will be a lot better."