Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has insisted that the team spirit within the camp is "fantastic" following a five-match winning run in the Premier League.

Pressure mounted on Pardew's shoulders at the start of the campaign having overseen his side claim just four points from seven matches.

Now, fortunes have turned and the Magpies find themselves fifth in the league table, level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United.

"As a manager you on the training ground you see and think, 'this could be something'," The Chronicle quotes Pardew as saying. "Then you have a run of disappointments even though we played quite well.

"Then you start questioning your own eyes and management experience, but we felt there was something here. Suddenly we have hit the ground, got a win and just built on that. The spirit in the group is just fantastic."

Newcastle secured their fifth league win on the bounce with a 1-0 triumph over Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.