Krul wants top six finish

Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul is in no mood to be patted on the back as he and his team-mates continue to defy their doubters.

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The Magpies climbed to fifth place in the Barclays Premier League table as a result of a hard-fought victory over Blackburn at Ewood Park on Wednesday night.

Krul said: "We really want to push on for the second half of the season because we are up there and the chance is there. We really have to push on. I don't think we should rest on our laurels, we just have to really crack on now."

He added: "We have got a fantastic squad and if we can prove we are a top-six team at the end of the season, that will attract more players to the club and then we can really push on."

Alan Pardew's squad will be boosted for Sunday's game against Aston Villa by their sole January signing, former Freiburg striker Papiss Demba Cisse, who is available for the first time following his return, along with 15-goal leading scorer Demba Ba, from Senegal's ill-fated African Nations Cup campaign.

With Ivory Coast midfielder Cheick Tiote still involved in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, the Magpies will be stronger still in a few weeks' time.

Krul said: "Demba has been amazing, and to get his mate with him, that's a bonus and I am looking forward to seeing them both back.

"Hopefully Cheick won't be too much longer because he is a fantastic player for us as well."