Jason Tindall names two unsung heroes in Newcastle United's season as Magpies fight for top five finish

Newcastle United are on course to finish in the Premier League's top five places which will see the Magpies return to the Champions League.

Eddie Howe/Jason Tindall's side occupy third place going into the weekend's fixtures and picking up just one point against Aston Villa on Saturday will see them remain there going into the next set of fixtures.

A win, however, would see Newcastle putting the pressure on Arsenal in second place who will now have one eye on the Champions League, knowing that their Premier League title challenge is effectively over.

Finishing anywhere in the top five will be fantastic for Newcastle, but if they could sneak second place alongside their Carabao Cup victory, what a season this will have been.

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Newcastle United's fitness levels must be among the best in the league

What makes Newcastle's achievement all the more remarkable is that we've done this with pretty much the same set of players we've had for the last two seasons. There have been very few additions, a few exits and plenty of injuries along the way, but this wafer-thin squad is achieving things well above what many would give them credit for.

Each week, the lads go out and run their legs off. The same XI have started the last six games in a row, and we expect them all to go again on Saturday, and it's no mean feat given the intensity Newcastle play with.

We just have to look at that 94th-minute run by Sandro Tonali against Manchester United to know what kind of condition our players are in.

James Bunce has done the job he was brought in to do

Speaking to the media on Friday morning, Jason Tindall took the time to acknowledge and name the men behind this phenomenon.

"It's what we wanna try and do, week in, week out, regardless of whoever we play against.

"I think you have to give credit to James Bunce and Dan Hodges, the medical team and sports science team, for that as well because they play a big part in making sure that these lads are able to go out there and deliver the type of performances that's expected and that we want.

"So full credit to them, and the players to be able to go out, as you say, and to repeat that level of intensity that they showed against Manchester United and Crystal Palace. Huge credit to everybody."