Anita: Expect better from Newcastle next season

Newcastle’s midfielder Vurnon Anita has insisted that fans can expect better from the club after a disappointing campaign last time out.

Alan Pardew’s side finished just five points clear of relegation and only survived after managing to scrape wins from three of their last 10 games.

However, 24-year-old Anita believes the team are a lot better than their 16th-placed finish last season suggests and are ready to prove it.

“We’ve got a good team but we didn’t show it last season and now we start afresh,” he told BBC Newcastle.

“We will show people we are better than we were last year.”

He also confirmed that he hopes to become more of a regular fixture for the Premier League outfit after making 25 appearances last season following his move from Ajax.

“As a football player you always want to play,” he added.

“But I’m a relaxed person, I know when my chance comes I will take it. I will do my best and see what happens.

“I hope to play more of course, and I will do my best for the team.”

Newcastle are currently in the swing of pre-season training and will take in their first friendly against Motherwell on Tuesday before travelling to Portugal.