Mike Williamson: 'Winning mentality at Newcastle United vital'

Newcastle United centre-back Mike Williamson has said that it is vital to build a winning mentality at the club, off the back of their fifth-placed finish last season.

The former Portsmouth player is targeting a run of victories in pre-season so that he and his teammates can hit the ground running in the new Premier League season.

"[Pre-season is] about physically and mentally getting up to scratch, but everyone wants to get into the winning mentality - that's the way we work," said Williamson.

"The gaffer wants us to breed that. We have to be looking to win every time we step out on the pitch, regardless of whether it's a friendly or a competitive fixture."

Newcastle's new Premier League season kicks off with a home fixture against Tottenham Hotspur.