Newcastle defender Mike Williamson insists the squad are right behind boss Alan Pardew despite the club’s woeful start to the season.

The knives have been out for Pardew for a few weeks and Monday’s 1-0 reverse at Stoke, which left the Magpies in 19th place in the table, looked set to be the death knell for his time in the north east.

But owner Mike Ashley has, once again, stuck by the 53-year-old and will reportedly not even hold talks with his manager this week ahead of the weekend trip to Swansea.

A section of the Newcastle fans have turned against Pardew and have made their feelings known both inside and outside St James’ Park in recent times.

But Williamson has made it clear that the negativity of the supporters is not echoed in the dressing room or on the pitch.

“He’s obviously come in for a lot of criticism but he’s got a thick skin and he knows we can only get ourselves out of this position by going back to the drawing board and working hard,” he said.

“It shows on the pitch that we are 100 per cent behind him and we’re doing everything we can.”

The words will be welcomed by the former West Ham chief, who has cut a forlorn figure in the dug-out at times this season, but a win in Wales on Saturday is what he needs to give everyone at the club a lift.

Newcastle can be backed at 4.18 to down the Swans with the hosts on offer at 1.86 to tale all three points.