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De Jong: "We Have To Move On"
Written by Newcastle Utd
Siem de Jong has urged Newcastle to "move on" from last Saturday's defeat to Swansea and focus on their crunch game at Leicester
By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor
Siem de Jong has urged Newcastle to "move on" from Saturday's defeat to Swansea and focus on next weekend's crunch game at Leicester.
The former Ajax captain marked his first appearance since August with a goal against the Swans, but was in no mood to celebrate as United lost for the seventh match in succession.
De Jong has battled back from a collapsed lung after missing the first part of the campaign with a thigh injury, and showed just what the Magpies have been missing as he volleyed home Jack Colback's cross.
But that 87th-minute strike proved to be nothing more than a consolation goal for John Carver's side, who had taken the lead through Ayoze Perez before Nelson Oliveira equalised for the visitors on the stroke of half time.
The Swans then took control through Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jack Cork before De Jong's late effort threatened to spark a comeback.
"I was glad that I put it in but it was a little bit too late," he told nufcTV.
"I think we started off quite well and got a good goal, then just before half time we got a knock just before going in the dressing room because they made it 1-1.
"It showed a little bit in the second half. They got the upper hand and scored two goals, and we couldn't come back from that.
"The most important thing was to get points and we didn't. It's not about me at this point - it's about the team."
United travel to Leicester on Saturday, with the Foxes' fine recent form having taken them out of the relegation places.
Indeed, they're now just four points behind Newcastle and De Jong - who is set to play for the Magpies' under-21s at Derby on Tuesday as he continues to build up his match fitness - admitted: "We have to move on.
"It's a really important one. We just need the points - it doesn't matter against who - but if we lose against Leicester then of course the teams below come closer.
"We know how important it is and hopefully we can turn it around."
Click here to watch the nufcTV interview with Siem de Jong