‘We are ready for Blues test’

Apr 30 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

NEWCASTLE midfielder Geremi is looking forward to the arrival of Chelsea on Bank Holiday Monday as they will give a true measure of how far United have progressed under Kevin Keegan.

The Magpies have gone seven games unbeaten since the start of March to banish their relegation fears and prompt the optimistic among their supporters to start talking of a possible European challenge next season.

That is an ambition Geremi shares but, while he is thrilled by the improvements they have made since Keegan replaced Sam Allardyce, he knows they still have to test themselves against the best in the country.

In their last seven games, Newcastle have not faced a single side from the top eight in the Premier League and Geremi, who was at Stamford Bridge for four years, knows Chelsea are on a different level to any of the sides they have faced during that run.

Yet, it is precisely this sort of challenge which Newcastle need to rise to if they are going to re-emerge as European contenders and a victory over the Blues – which would end the London club’s title challenge – would be an excellent way to round off their home campaign.

“It’s a very good test for us – we’re looking forward to it,” said Geremi. “It’s important to get into the top-six next season and to do that we have to test ourselves against the best and see if we compete.

“As a player you want to play games against those types of teams and it’s a game where you can show how good you are.

“It’s a special game – and not just for me because I used to play for them. It’s the last game at home in front of our home crowd and we have to send them away hopeful about next season.

“The manager has drilled into us how important it is to challenge next year and it is important that we finish the season well. We want to take some momentum with us into next season.”

Some of Newcastle’s football has been scintillating during their recovery, but they did not match those high standards in the 2-2 draw with West Ham on Saturday. However, Geremi feels the squad proved they have other qualities needed to be a success in the Premier League. United never managed to come from behind to win a match under former manager Allardyce, but the spirit in the camp is far stronger under Keegan.

Geremi added: “We didn’t play well, but it shows what good spirit we have in the team – we play well and we’re fighting for each other. We’ve been fighting all this season.

“Before we went on this run I would have been worried if we went 2-0 down but not now. At the beginning of the season when other teams were winning two or three-nil it was game over but not now. We’ve got our confidence back and now I look around and there are a lot of players around me who are willing to fight.

“The manager always says to us: ‘Never give up – always continue to fight, always continue to battle’. And we showed that against West Ham. It was very good and we deserved it – it was a good point to get.”