Sunday 18 March 2018 16:54, UK
Matt Ritchie believes Newcastle could be forced to wait until the final day of the season to secure their Premier League status.
The midfielder scored a goal in their 3-0 victory over fellow strugglers Southampton last weekend to ease their relegation fears last weekend and they sit four points above the bottom three with eight games left in their campaign.
Newcastle concluded a four-day training camp in Spain with a 1-1 friendly draw against Belgian Pro League side Royal Antwerp - a game in which Ritchie scored the opener.
When asked whether their relegation battle could go down to the wire, Ritchie told Sky Sports News: "For sure, it has been so tight all season.
"It is going to be a tight end, there will be twists and turns for sure so we will be preparing as best we can."
The Magpies return to Premier League action on March 31 after the international break and Ritchie is expecting a stern challenge when they host Huddersfield, who sit one point behind Newcastle after a 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.
"You can't affect the results so you have just got to keep going, keep trying to win your games and Huddersfield next will be a tough game," he added.
"Obviously they had a disappointing result against Palace so it will be a tough test and they will be ready for it but so will we."
Mo Diame also highlighted the importance of the meeting with the Terriers as another "final" ahead of their pivotal run-in of league fixtures.
"The last match at home [Southampton] gave us confidence but it is going to be another final for us.
"We need to make sure we get the three points."
The former Senegal international says Rafael Benitez's squad are in good spirits and is well aware of the challenge they face after suffering relegation when he played at Hull.
"It is tough. You are fighting every day, every single training session and every game is a battle," Diame said.
"We need to fight and mentally we are in a good mood with this victory so we need to keep it going."
