Andros Townsend believes Newcastle United players have 'come together as a group' to move eight points clear of the relegation zone after the former Magpies' winger experienced 'divisions' in the dressing room when the club went down in 2016.
Newcastle were in the bottom three when Townsend completed his £12m move from Spurs midway through the season five years ago and it was quickly apparent that all was not right behind the scenes.
Jamaal Lascelles declared 'no one gives a f***' after he was sent off against Everton in the February and the defender, who led Newcastle back to the top-flight as club captain, said that 'we need players who care' following the black-and-whites' defeat at Southampton two months later.
Rafa Benitez had replaced Steve McClaren with just 10 games remaining and, despite a strong finish to the season, owner Mike Ashley simply left it too late to bring the Spaniard in.
Townsend was one of a number of players who left Newcastle after the Magpies were relegated and Crystal Palace quickly activated the Londoner's £13m release clause.
But Townsend still has a soft spot for his former side and the 29-year-old has been heartened by Newcastle's response since that humiliating defeat at Brighton last month.
"I've been relegated twice with QPR and Newcastle," Townsend told Premier League Productions after the black-and-whites' 3-2 win against West Ham.
"Both of those times, there were divisions in the dressing room. The English lads go to one side and the foreign imports go to another side, and it's not really a great team cohesion.
"Some of those Newcastle players went through relegation. They know what they need to do to get out of it and they're all coming together as a group and it's showing on the pitch, especially in the last three games."
