Isaac Hayden admits he is now playing with "more certainty" after a difficult 12 months at Newcastle United.
The midfielder wanted to leave the club last season but is now set for contract talks after discussing his future with Steve Bruce.
Hayden previously asked for a move due to personal reasons, but after starting the season in midfield against Arsenal, he said: "Last season I just did my best, I still gave everything I could for the football club.
"And now the window's closed, there's a bit more certainty for not just myself, but for everybody and this is the group, obviously, that's going to be going forward for the season.
"We're just fully focused on what we have to do and how the manager wants us to play."
Newcastle were narrowly beaten by Arsenal in the first game of the campaign.
But Hayden expects the team to get stronger as the weeks go by.
He said: "You can try to be as fit as you can in pre-season but nothing prepares you for the intensity of the Premier League.
"I think as the weeks go on, and as the matches go on, the players will get fitter and stronger and everyone will see the benefit of the attacking play, especially for the strikers and forwards."
