Jamaal Lascelles has admitted he has been unable to find his best form this season.
The Newcastle United captain was being touted for the England squad just 12 months ago as he helped the Magpies to a top 10 place.
But this season he has struggled to find that consistency and United have slipped down to 14th place compared to last term.
Lascelles said: "Maybe the first half of the season, on a personal level, it wasn't my best.
"Some games I did well, some games not as well, so maybe I should have been a bit more consistent.
"But I think I've found in the last few months performances have started to pick up.
"I'm the harshest critic of myself.
"In comparison to last year.
"I thought I did really well last year.
"But it's not really about me.
"Again, we've gone another season and had a lot of people doubting us and we're going to do another year in the Premier League."
Lascelles feels it is now about how Newcastle respond to this season now.
In an interview with the club's programme, he said: "It wasn't like every single game I was having a beast but it was just results weren't going our way as well.
"It might look even worse.
"I think when the results are going your way it makes everyone look like a better player.
"I think it's just because I want to do the best I can.
"I just want to try to better myself.
"When things don't go the right way it's how you bounce back and react to it."
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