Gutiérrez pledges to fight for Newcastle survival

Argentina International Gutiérrez has seen the tide turn for the Magpies in the weeks following Kevin Keegan's departure. After a reasonably impressive pre-season, the Toon Army could never have foreseen what has transpired since.

"I am surprised at where the club is, I must admit. But it does not change things - I want to stay at the club for very many years," said Gutiérrez.

After consecutive defeats to Liverpool and Wigan, and a goalless draw at Hull, the St. James' Park club are now just 2 points off the drop-zone with relegation seeming like a frightening possibility every minute.

"As a team we have to be better in the second part of the season. It is not acceptable for a team with so many good players to be down near the bottom."

Gutiérrez also admits that luck has not been with the Magpies this term, and that in matches despite playing better, the team lost for reasons unexplained.

"But in some matches we have not had a lot of luck and that has cost us a lot of points this season."

"Without that, we would be doing better but that is football. It is not always the best team that wins the match."

Newcastle's paper-thin squad is a cause for concern as well, and the Argentine has hinted that the squad needs strengthening if progress is to be made.

"It is difficult with the injuries that we have. We knew when we started the season that we don`t have too many players and we have a small squad, though."

Alan Smith, Obafemi Martins, Mark Viduka, Habib Beye, and Joey Barton are all on the injury list, and Gutiérrez laments their loss with hope that they would return soon.

"We need those players to come back for us to move away from the bottom of the table."

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