Matt Ritchie has suggested that Newcastle United could be forced to wait until the final day of the season to make sure of Premier League survival.
The midfielder scored in the Magpies' 3-0 victory over fellow strugglers Southampton last weekend to ease their relegation fears.
Rafael Benitez's charges now sit four points above the bottom three with eight games left in their campaign.
On Sunday, Newcastle concluded a four-day training camp in Spain with a 1-1 friendly draw against Belgian Pro League side Royal Antwerp, in which Ritchie scored the opener.
When asked by Sky Sports News whether the Tynesiders' relegation battle could go down to the wire, the 28-year-old replied: "For sure, it has been so tight all season.
"It is going to be a tight end, there will be twists and turns for sure so we will be preparing as best we can."
The Magpies return to Premier League action on March 31 after the international break against another relegation battler in Huddersfield Town.
Giuseppe Labellarte
