Newcastle must not let their standards slip, warns Georginio Wijnaldum

Georginio Wijnaldum has warned Newcastle they cannot afford to rest on their laurels after moving out of the Premier League relegation zone.

The Magpies have climbed to 15th place in the table after back-to-back victories over Liverpool and Tottenham, but Wijnaldum knows they need to continue to build on this platform.

The Dutch forward told Sky Sports News HQ: "That's what we have to show, that we have turned a corner, because now we have won two times in a row we want to win a lot more. But we still must work hard and put in a good performance to win games.

"You can't think if you win two times that 'everything has changed' because we still have to work hard and show that we are better than before."

Newcastle failed to win any of their first eight league games this season, but have secured four victories in their last eight to total 16 points from their 16 matches so far.

Goalkeeper Rob Elliot has featured in those last eight fixtures after replacing the injured Tim Krul and the 29-year-old is keen to make the most of his unexpected opportunity.

"It's been really good," he said. "I maybe thought it wouldn't have happened at the start of the season, but that's football for you.

"Swings and roundabouts happen all the time and if you get an opportunity you have just got to take it and enjoy it.

"I think that is all I have tried to do, play with a smile on my face and just appreciate playing for a club like Newcastle, because sometimes that gets lost with all the storm that comes around being a Newcastle player. Sometimes it's just great to walk out in front of 52,000 and play football."

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Wijnaldum and Elliot were speaking at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle where - along with the rest of the squad and manager Steve McClaren - they were delivering Christmas presents to poorly children.