Monday 21 March 2016 17:11, UK
Former Newcastle manager John Carver says their next Premier League game against Norwich is a must-win.
The Magpies came from behind to draw 1-1 with rivals and fellow-strugglers Sunderland on Sunday, a result that leaves Rafa Benitez's side three points behind Norwich, who are 17th in the table.
The hard-fought draw at St James' Park came on the back of a battling 1-0 defeat at leaders Leicester but Carver, who kept Newcastle in the top-flight last season, insists the Carrow Road game on April 2 will go a long way to defining their season.
"We need to go there and get three points. We don't have to be stupid but we have to get three points," he told Sky Sports News HQ.
"The good thing is, we have reached an international break now and Rafa has more time to work with the players.
"There are not as many international lads going away, so he will have the majority of his squad and possibly one or two coming back from injury.
"He will have the best opportunity to win and he has to go there thinking - and I know Norwich have had good results against Manchester City and with that win at West Brom on Saturday - but they have to go there thinking 'we can win this game'."
I worry about the side we have got there at the moment. I worry about some of our bigger players.
Carver appears unsure about the quality and desire of some of the players at St James' Park, though, as they enter the final stages of the campaign.
"I worry about the side we have got there at the moment. I worry about some of our bigger players," he added.
"There is a big tournament [Euro 2016] coming up in the summer, so you would think you could get the best out of these players, but unfortunately we haven't.
"There are a lot of people working extremely hard at the club behind the scenes that we don't hear about. For their sake, these players have to keep the team in the Premier League next season and get them over the line."
Asked who he thought would be relegated at the end of the season, Carver added: "My head is telling me definitely Aston Villa, Norwich City and, unfortunately, I have to say, Sunderland."
