Smith desperate to help Toon

Alan Smith is desperate to play his part in Newcastle’s desperate bid for Premier League survival.

The Magpies are second from bottom and four points from safety following their 1-0 defeat at Tottenham yesterday.

The 28-year-old has only played four games this season but he is determined to play his part in the team’s battle against relegation to the Coca-cola Championship, starting with next Monday’s home game against Portsmouth.

Smith told the club’s official website, www.nufc.co.uk: “It’s only my fourth game of the season. It’s frustrating watching the lads and not being able to help them.

“Hopefully we can all get our heads down and build on the second-half performance (at Spurs) because that was a performance of a set of lads who are determined to stay in this division and anyone watching will see that.”

He added: “We have to put the Tottenham game behind us now, take the positives and work on the negatives and get ready for Monday night against Portsmouth.

“The three home games are massive – everyone understands that.

“Everybody knows we have to win on Monday.

“There can be no sitting back, we’ll have to go for it, we need three points.”