Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles is confident that his team will be playing Premier League football during the 2018-19 campaign.

A remarkable state of affairs means that just six points separates 10th-placed Watford from 18th-placed Swansea City in the Premier League table.

West Ham United in 13th, meanwhile, are just three points outside of the relegation zone, while Newcastle sit 15th – just two points clear of the bottom three as things stand.

The Magpies have shown improvement in recent weeks to lose just one of their last eight Premier League matches, but Rafael Benitez’s side remain in trouble ahead of their trip to Liverpool this weekend.

Lascelles, however, has said that Newcastle will be ‘more than safe’ come the end of the campaign.

Lascelles told Sky Sports:

“We wish we were in a better position than we are but there are still 10 games left and the way we are playing I think we are going to be more than safe.

“Everyone is really confident with each other and with a manager like this behind us that brings even more confidence.”

Lascelles, who is valued at £6.3m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has scored three times in 25 Premier League appearances for Newcastle this season.

The 24-year-old’s form has led to suggestions that Chelsea could swoop for the centre-back at the end of the season.