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Winning Mentality Vital, Says Cup Winner Kyle
Written by Newcastle Utd
Kyle Cameron says Newcastle United Under-21s' Steel Park Cup victory this weekend is important as it will help build a "winning mentality"
By Tom Easterby - Newcastle United Club Reporter
Goalscorer Kyle Cameron says Newcastle United Under-21s' Steel Park Cup victory this weekend is important as it will help build a "winning mentality" in the young Magpies' ranks.
Defender Cameron scored the only goal of the game in United's 1-0 win over PSV Eindhoven on Sunday, which followed Saturday's 3-0 triumph over Corby Town.
And, while admitting that his winner against the Dutch side was far from a classic, the 19-year-old said lifting the trophy was vital for the team as they bid to get off on the right foot this season.
"It just dropped at my feet and I've put it in - a goal's a goal at the end of the day!" he said of his 50th-minute close-range strike against PSV. "You've got to take them as they come, and if they drop to you in the box like that you've got to finish them.
"It's a major thing, getting that winning mentality early and winning pre-season games, even though they might not be against the highest standard of teams. It's about getting your head thinking 'we've played four games, we've won four, so the next game, we've got to do the same and win that as well'.
"We've got to be happy - we've come here to win it, even though it may not be a major tournament. We've always got to look to build a winning mentality before the season starts so when it comes, we're used to winning and we can really push on."
The cup win is the latest success of pre-season for Peter Beardsley's Magpies, who have won all four of their games so far, scoring 12 and conceding just the once - against Darlington last week.
Cameron says that there is plenty of heart to take from their start to 2016/17, both defensively and offensively.
"As a defender, you've always got to look at the goals conceded, and over pre-season we've only conceded one goal so far in four games," he said. "We've got to just take positives from that.
"We'll score lot of goals, and even though it was only 1-0 today against PSV it could have easily been double figures in the first half, so there's positives.
"We've got lads younger and older, and everyone's pulling their weight and putting in good performances so we can't complain."
Photograph courtesy of www.kappasport.co.uk.