Newcastle United attacker Ayoze Perez, rated at £7.2m according to Transfermarkt, has told The Chronicle that the club’s Premier League survival hopes could depend on their form at St James’ Park across the rest of the season.
The Magpies haven’t enjoyed a particularly successful campaign on their own turf and they had the worst home record in the top flight prior to the visit of Manchester United on Sunday having taken just 13 points and scored 11 goals in 13 matches, with no win since there since a 1-0 success against Crystal Palace at the end of October.
However, Rafa Benitez’s men picked up a crucial three points against the Red Devils with a fine performance and a 1-0 win that saw them move out of the relegation zone and two points above it.
Newcastle face Southampton, Huddersfield Town, Arsenal, West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea on Tyneside before the campaign comes to a climax in May, and Perez says those fixtures could define whether they stay up or make an immediate return to the Championship.
Speaking to The Chronicle, the Spaniard said: “It’s going to be really important, as we haven’t been as good as we wished at home.
“This is the first win since October against Palace, so that means a lot. We have to be stronger at home.
“That’s it. The home games can make a difference. You see how the other teams are winning at home. We know it and we’re working on it.”
