Former Newcastle United defender Olivier Bernard has claimed that the Magpies are struggling in the Premier League because they do not have a natural leader.
John Carver's charges have fallen to eight league defeats in a row and are in danger of slipping into the relegation zone if they lose against West Bromwich Albion and other results go against them this afternoon.
Bernard, who had two separate spells at Newcastle between 2000 and 2007, told BBC Sport: "You need your main players to take the lead and there's no leader at Newcastle.
"That's the problem, that's what we've seen in recent weeks. We've got two or three names but I don't think they're natural leaders."
Newcastle were relegated from the Premier League in 2009, before bouncing back a season later.
