Ayoze Perez believes Newcastle United can use the momentum gained from their “massive” back-to-back away wins to improve their form at St James’ Park.
The Magpies started 2018 with an uplifting 1-0 victory at Stoke City, their second successive win on the road against a relegation rival.
But Newcastle’s next two matches take place on Tyneside, with Saturday’s FA Cup third-round tie with League Two Luton Town followed by a crucial relegation clash against Swansea City the following weekend.
Given that Rafa Benitez’s men have failed to win at St James’ Park since October, Perez knows it is essential they rediscover some positive home form quickly in order to pull away from the drop zone.
“It’s massive. Every team tries to protect themselves and get points and be strong in their own stadium,” Perez, who scored the Magpies’ winner at the Bet365 Stadium, said of Newcastle’s back-to-back away victories.
“Against two important teams, we have done it. It’s really important. We will now focus on our form at home - that can be much better - but we have to keep pushing.
“This [FA Cup] game could be good for whoever’s playing. We’re at home. We will try to improve our form at home and get a good result and be competitive.
“The next league game is also at home against Swansea, so it’s going to be two important weeks. We have to be ready for it because we need to get more points. It’s going to be important.”
Perez, who has primarily been used as a No 10 by Benitez, started in a two-man strike-force with winger Christian Atsu in Staffordshire on Monday.
And the 24-year-old admits he felt comfortable returning to a striker role, scoring his second goal of the campaign in the process.
“Just two hours before the game once we got to the stadium. The gaffer gave us the instructions, the line up, and that’s when you find out,” Perez said.
“You start talking with your team-mates about what we were going to do. We did really well and played good football. I’m happy for the win.
“It was really good to be honest to be back in the starting XI, that’s always important. I was also comfortable in that role.
“We did well. We played good football. We’ve got quality in the team to play good football - we did it and we won.”
Despite being just 24, Perez is one of the senior players within the Magpies dressing room - and he is relishing the opportunity to help the younger members of the squad develop and adapt to life in the Premier League.
“I’m only 24 but I’ve played quite a lot for this amazing club. I’m one of the oldest in the dressing room,” the Spaniard added.
“We’re a young squad and a young team, but we are improving under Rafa. After this busy couple of weeks, we have to keep pushing for the second part of the league.”