STAND-IN skipper Jermaine Jenas has urged all his team-mates to stand up and be counted to ensure Newcastle United start to climb the Premiership table.

The Magpies have won just one of their last six league games, dropping to eight points above a relegation place and ten below a Champions League spot.

Saturday's 4-0 hammering at Chelsea was hard for Newcastle to stomach, having gone just over an hour without conceding a goal against the top-flight pace-setters.

With Alan Shearer still sidelined through injury, Jenas was captain again at Stamford Bridge and has been one of the main characters on the training pitch this week trying to lift spirits ahead of Saturday's match with Portsmouth.

The 21-year-old feels an enormous responsibility to help steer the club forward, despite being the youngest skipper in Newcastle's modern-day history.

But Jenas insists there is also a great need for every player to come together and help Graeme Souness' side recapture the sort of form that saw them go ten games unbeaten after the Scot took over from Sir Bobby Robson.

"We've got to pick ourselves up. We've got a long week ahead of us and all we're focusing on is getting back out there. The lads are already up for Portsmouth. That game can't come soon enough. We're determined to turn good performances into goals," said Jenas.

"We all have a role in raising spirits after the weekend. The captain gets labelled as the leader and there's no doubt that encouraging your teammates comes with the territory when you're handed the skipper's armband.

"But there are other experienced players within this Newcastle squad and we can pick ourselves up collectively. We have to get the win this weekend. It's a victory we really need. We want to come away from a weekend fixture feeling happier. I do, anyway."

Despite eventually succumbing to the attacking powers of Chelsea, Jenas believes his partnership with Kieron Dyer in the middle of midfield was one of the bright spots of a devastating defeat.

The England pair enjoy playing alongside one another and have a friendship on and off the field.

Jenas claims the former Ipswich man has already started to win over sections of the boo-boys who targeted him earlier in the season.

Dyer was vilified after he refused to play in the right midfield role at Middlesbrough on the opening day of the campaign, and he was booed at St James' Park when he turned out for England against the Ukraine.

Jenas said: "I thought Kieron was outstanding at Chelsea and he was one player who didn't deserve to be on the losing side.

"His pressing of the opposition and what he created for us were key to the way we performed in that first hour.

"He showed everyone exactly what he can do in that central midfield position and proved he is a world-class player in there.

"Remember as well that he is still short of full match fitness. Kieron is still coming back to his best.

"I'd like to think he's beginning to win over the fans again. Some of them got on his back earlier this season but it would be nice to think they're coming round.

"If he can keep performing like this week in, week out then we'll be winning more games than we'll be losing."

Meanwhile, Newcastle's defensive problems have worsened after centre-back Andy O'Brien broke down again in training.

The Republic of Ireland international was due to make his return from a hamstring injury at home to Portsmouth on Saturday but has now suffered a calf injury.

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