Newcastle United defender James Perch has claimed that his teammates are not thinking about European football next season.

The fifth-placed Magpies, who are on the verge of qualification for the Europa League, still have a chance of sneaking into the Champions League places.

Despite the lure of European club football's most prestigious competition, Perch insists that the team are maintaining their focus.

"We are not thinking about the Champions League or Europe or anything," he told The Journal.

"We're just happy to be here but we just don't want to let ourselves down now. I know it's a cliche but we're taking every game as it comes.

"We need to grasp the opportunity that we've been given but the way we do that is just by winning games and not letting ourselves get swept away by what is being said about us."

Newcastle continue their Premier League campaign at home to Stoke City on Saturday.