Isaac Hayden believes Newcastle United must celebrate the achievements of 2017 as a whole - and has vowed that the Magpies will only improve as the Premier League season progresses.
The Magpies secured promotion back to the top flight last season as Championship-title winners, before starting the Premier League campaign in promising fashion.
However, the final two months of 2017 brought just one victory for Rafa Benitez’s men, while they ended the year with a disappointing 0-0 draw at home to relegation rivals Brighton and Hove Albion.
Ahead of the Magpies’ crucial Premier League clash at Stoke City on New Year’s Day, Hayden argues belief should remain high on Tyneside - despite United sitting just one point above the relegation zone after 21 games.
“If you asked anyone connected with Newcastle United on January 1st, 2017, that we’d be standing here at the end of the year, in the position we’re in, everyone would have bitten your hand off,” the defensive-midfielder said.
“We’ve seen how difficult it is to get out of the Championship for the teams that have been relegated this season, with Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Hull.
“It’s not easy to get out of that division, but we did that and then we had a good start to the season in the Premier League.
“Yes, we’ve had a couple of bad months, but we’re a young group in the Premier League and we’re still learning and getting better. I’m sure in the second half of the season, you’ll see a better Newcastle United.
“The main thing is to stay in the league this season because this is where everyone in this dressing room wants to play football. The manager and everybody connected with the club wants to be in the Premier League.
“It’s up to us to stay in the league, then try to get as high as we can. Then we can see where we can go next season too.”
Newcastle have claimed just five points from the last 36 available, but they picked up an impressive and encouraging 3-2 victory at West Ham United in their most-recent away match.
Hayden knows that Premier League games are decided by small margins - and that United must ensure they find themselves on the right side of those.
“The last three games, you can’t question the commitment, as you haven’t been able to all season,” the 22-year-old added.
“Everyone leaves everything out there on the pitch, we never leave the pitch with regrets. The Premier League for me is the best league in the world, and the players in it are top drawer.
“Sometimes, it can be one mistake or one amazing piece of skill like the world-class Arsenal goal we conceded, and that’s the game done.
“Games are decided on fine margins, and it’s important we push the margins back towards us rather than against us.”