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Fernandez: Newcastle must build a winning mentality

Cape Town - Federico Fernandez wants Newcastle United to use the comeback win over Southampton on Sunday to help the team create a winning mentality.

Former Argentina international Fernandez grabbed his second goal of the Premier League season on Sunday as Newcastle came from 1-0 down at St James' Park to defeat Southampton 2-1, making it two victories in the space of four days after Thursday's 2-0 win at Bramall Lane.

Danny Ings had given the Saints the lead in the 52nd minute, making him the first Southampton player since James Beattie in 2003 to score in five consecutive PL matches, before Jonjo Shelvey netted his fifth of the campaign with a brilliant header 16 minutes later.

The Magpies were far from their best at the weekend, but that victory has seen the club climb into 10th position in the table, seven points clear of the relegation zone and just two adrift of fifth-place Manchester United, who overcame rivals City 2-1 in Saturday's derby at the Etihad Stadium.

With the games coming thick and fast, manager Steve Bruce is expected to rotate his squad and there is a doubt about the fitness of Allan Saint-Maximin, who came off in stoppage-time against the Saints with a hamstring injury and was seen leaving the stadium on crutches.

Fernandez, who has featured in 10 league games this season, has been delighted with Newcastle's recent run of form and he is hoping the whole squad can enjoy this winning feeling for as long as they can.

"We are working hard to keep our shape. We feel okay. We took our chances and they are great points," he said. "We need to enjoy this period and build a winning mentality. You never know where we can arrive at the end of the season, but we take it game by game."

Fernandez is expected to be handed his eighth league start of the season when Newcastle make the trip to Turf Moor on Saturday to take on Burnley, who lost 5-0 at Tottenham at the weekend to make it three defeats on the bounce for the struggling Clarets.

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