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Determined Dummett Is Up For The Fight
Written by Newcastle Utd
Newcastle-born defender Paul Dummett has revealed what was said when the players and staff held a heart-to-heart meeting this week
By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor
Paul Dummett has revealed what was said when John Carver held a heart-to-heart meeting with his players this week ahead of Newcastle United's "biggest game for many years" this weekend.
And the Geordie defender believes that the squad are up for the battle as they look to beat West Ham at St. James' Park to stay in the Barclays Premier League.
Three points on Sunday for Carver's side would secure safety regardless of Hull City's result against Manchester United and with that in mind, head coach Carver called all of his players and senior staff into the strategy room at the Club's Benton training ground on Tuesday morning.
As a boyhood Newcastle fan who still has painful memories of relegation in 2008/09, there's no doubting that Dummett understands the importance of the crucial clash with the Hammers.
And, when asked if his team-mates shared that attitude, the 23-year-old former Kenton School pupil told nufcTV: "I think they do, especially after the meeting we had.
"Everyone knows that this is one of the biggest games in the Club's history for many years, and one we need to win.
"We had a good talk, and said that this weekend was going to be the biggest game for many years.
"That was mentioned to every player in there and (Carver) did say that if anyone's not willing to work hard or be up for the fight on Sunday, then leave the room now.
"If anyone's like that in training or they don't want to help if they're not in the team, if they're sulking or don't want to help the starting team work on what West Ham are good at, then they could just leave because there's no point in having players working with us who aren't up for the fight.
"No-one left the room and we need to show the fight and spirit we have got on Sunday to get that win."
United have not won in their last ten games, and that run of form has seen them slip from a seemingly comfortable mid-table position to one place outside the drop zone.
That means that if Hull beat Manchester United at the KC Stadium and Newcastle fail to beat Sam Allardyce's team, the Magpies would be relegated.
But Dummett insisted: "We can't be over-confident but we are confident that we can go to Sunday and get a win.
"All that matters is us - as long as we win, it doesn't matter about Hull. It is in our hands still and we need to make sure that we win the game."
Dummett has recently returned to action after recovering from a knee injury sustained in February which had been expected to keep him out him for the rest of the season, but joined the supporters in the away end more than once during his spell on the sidelines.
As a result, he knows what they have been through this term and admitted: "I feel for them as fans - being a fan as well, I know how it feels and we haven't performed like we should have been performing.
"But when they're supporting us the way they can support, I know for opposition players it's harder for them to play. The atmosphere is intense.
"As a player, when you can hear those fans singing it gives you a boost, so hopefully they can give us that lift over the line to stay in the Premier League."
Click here to watch the full nufcTV interview with Paul Dummett