Alan Smith: “On the first day of the season, we went to West Brom and a lot of people outside of Newcastle and outside of the club had written us off.
“They questioned whether the players would want it enough. They questioned our integrity and whether we were professional enough, but we have just got on with it.
“We were criticised, rightly, because we had been so disappointing when we went down. As a club, it’s been nice to have the opportunity to put that right, and we will put it right even more if we go on to win the title.
“We are a squad, football isn’t now about big egos and individuals.
“We went down as a team, Newcastle United, but we go back up as a team that is more united.
“I’ve loved this season. Anybody who came back to this club in the summer, they had to be committed and they had to want to play in this league. We knew that and we’ve shown it all season.
“There are a lot of good players and proud people in this league and we’ve needed everyone to play their part. What we’ve seen is a team that is together and united, that wants to do well for each other.”
“I don’t think we’ll have as much pressure on us next season as we’ve had this.
“And anyway, the only pressure that counts is what you put on yourself.
“We know the standards we should set and the standards we’ve already set this season.
We are probably going to have to go away in the summer and come back 20 per cent better, fitter and stronger. That’s the thing. To survive in the Premier League, we are going to have to be better.”