Newcastle United defender Daryl Janmaat has claimed that it is "too early" in the Premier League season for the team to be in a relegation battle.
Steve McClaren's side have grabbed just one victory in 10 league games, six of which have ended in defeat.
The Magpies are second from bottom in the table, two points adrift of safety.
While Janmaat has admitted that Newcastle's form is a "worry", the Dutchman is confident that positive results will come their way eventually.
"It is too early to say [if we are in a relegation battle]," Janmaat told The Chronicle. "It is a worry, that's normal because we are now in the relegation positions, so we have to do better and win games soon.
"In the last few games we have been better and better. We have to continue how we have played and then I believe the points will come."
Newcastle's misery continued at the weekend when they suffered their sixth consecutive defeat to arch rivals Sunderland in the form of a 3-0 loss at the Stadium of Light.