Gary Neville believes Newcastle United will be looking up the table despite Burnley and Watford closing the gap on Eddie Howe’s side at the weekend.
The Magpies extended their Premier League unbeaten run to six games with a 1-1 draw at West Ham on Saturday.
Speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast, the Sky Sports pundit said: “I was at Newcastle last week and came to the conclusion during that game that I wasn’t watching a team that would get relegated. Massive improvements in all ways.
“The way they pushed up the pitch, the way they were playing, the confidence, the atmosphere in the stadium – it was different.”
The former Manchester United and England right-back felt Howe’s side were “resilient” against West Ham and praised Joe Willock for his “clever” goal.
However, after Newcastle gained a point away at the Hammers, Neville went into the Premier League’s afternoon kick-offs on Saturday “ultimately thinking” that Norwich, Burnley and Watford were probably going to be relegated.
But after Burnley’s 3-0 win at Brighton, Neville said: “Burnley go and do that – and you think Burnley, Sean Dyche – this could be the greatest of escapes.
“If he was to get out of this it would mean a Newcastle, Brentford or Leeds would go down – I don’t think Everton will.
“I thought I had certainty in the relegation battle at 2.30pm on Saturday with Newcastle going away to West Ham, but come 5pm those results made me think.”
The win against Graham Potter’s side means the Clarets are five points behind Newcastle with two games in hand.
Watford also picked up a crucial three points in their fight for survival with a 1-0 win at Aston Villa, which moved the Hornets to within four points of the Toon Army.
Neville said: “Watford become more and more dangerous in terms of staying up by the fact he’s [Roy Hodgson] there with Ray [Lewington].
“He’s [Hodgson] had to do this before with different clubs and he’s done it before.”
Neville felt that having Dyche and Hodgson at Burnley and Watford made the two clubs “dangerous” to the likes of Leeds, Brentford and Newcastle.
But the 47-year-old believes the Magpies have “jumped up a level” which means Howe’s side will be starting to “look up the table”.
Newcastle could leapfrog Brentford with a win against Thomas Frank’s side on Saturday.
- NEW! Download the TalkingPoints App, create your own newsfeed and join the conversation
- Ewen Jaouen reveals immediate thoughts on Newcastle United’s training ground after signing
- Kieran Maguire’s verdict on PIF selling Newcastle United after LIV Golf U-turn
- Fabrizio Romano confirms Ewen Jaouen transfer fee as Newcastle United close in
- Progress at last as Newcastle United completely revamp their transfer stance
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
