Premier League: Former Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan believes players back Alan Pardew

Former Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan believes the players are fully behind current boss Alan Pardew as the Magpies' form continues to improve.

St James' Park had been a hotbed of criticism aimed at Pardew during a period that saw them win just twice in 17 matches - but a run of victories against Leicester, Tottenham, Manchester City and Liverpool has transformed the mood on Tyneside.

Remember it was only two years ago he was manager of the year, so things do change quickly in football.

Keegan said of the upturn in form: "Four games ago there was despair around Newcastle.

"He (Pardew) has been under pressure for a long time, since Christmas at least. They've persevered with him for whatever reason, and that's worked out to their advantage.

"The one thing that's obvious is that the team's behind him: you don't go to places like Tottenham and Man City and win, or Liverpool at home when they desperately needed a result, without having great team spirit.

"So that's what Alan's got, he's got a lot of character.

"Remember it was only two years ago he was manager of the year so things do change quickly in football.

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"But sometimes you have to give people who've done it before a little bit more patience, and just respect the fact that actually they've done better than this.

"Sometimes you're going to hit brick walls in football, you're going to lose key players, you're going to sell players you shouldn't sell maybe, that Newcastle did with (Yohan) Cabaye in particular.

"But for Alan I'm really pleased, as an ex-manager of Newcastle, you don't like to see managers just leaving the club every three to six months like some clubs.

"I think the board there have got the rewards for sticking by him: and now they've got to keep it going. They are halfway up the table, and they are not that far off the top six now strangely enough.

"They can certainly harness this now to kick on and build again."

Newcastle will be hoping to continue their run of victories when they travel to West Brom on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.

Watch West Brom v Newcastle, Sunday 12.30pm, Sky Sports 1