JERMAINE Jenas has urged Newcastle's fans to give Kieron Dyer an even break after attributing his fellow midfielder's improved form to a more welcoming reception at St James' Park.

Dyer has been public enemy number one on Tyneside ever since he refused to play on the right of midfield against Middlesbrough on the opening day of the season.

That refusal led to a high-profile altercation with Sir Bobby Robson and, while the former Newcastle boss also clashed with other players, his fractious relationship with Dyer overshadowed the final month of his reign.

Newcastle's supporters made their feelings on the subject crystal clear when they booed the 25-year-old onto St James' Park during August's international friendly with Ukraine.

Dyer was also jeered during the recent home game with Manchester United but, after he insisted he does not want to leave Tyneside when the transfer window reopens in January, Sunday's home game with Everton saw a far more muted reaction from the terraces.

Craig Bellamy spoke out in Dyer's defence last week, claiming the England international was the best player he had ever played with.

And, after watching Dyer play his best football of the season last weekend, Jenas has become the second United player to come out in support of his under-fire team-mate.

"Kieron Dyer in that kind of form is a real threat for us," said Jenas, who became the youngest captain in Newcastle's history when he took over the captain's armband at Crystal Palace earlier this month.

"As soon as the crowds stopped booing him, he has definitely had more impact on the game.

"It's really difficult to concentrate on your game when there are 2,000 fans booing you individually.

"It's not nice, but hopefully people can now get behind him. He is a Newcastle United player and he has shown what he can do for us.

"He was on the right-hand side on Sunday and he didn't get as much of the ball as he would have wanted in the first half.

"He could have got frustrated, but that's not the way he is. He wanted to get his head down and work and I thought he was exceptional."

Dyer's performance might have impressed Jenas, but it was not enough to earn Newcastle three points against one of their rivals for a European spot.

Sunday's 1-1 draw with Everton stretched United's winless run at St James' Park to four games, and left them ten points adrift of David Moyes' side.

Injuries to key players have hardly helped Graeme Souness' cause but, in the continued absence of Alan Shearer, Stephen Carr and Andy O'Brien, Jenas has urged the rest of the club's elder statesmen to come to the fore.

"We have to keep our heads and the players who have been around a bit have to show their experience," said the former Nottingham Forest midfielder, who has made more than 150 senior appearances despite being just 21 years of age.

"We're playing well, but we have to continue playing good football and not get sucked into playing long-ball stuff because we are a decent side and the results will soon start to change.

"It's difficult, but we have to keep plugging away. The players' confidence is very high and I think things will even themselves out.

"Drawing against Everton was a hiccup, but we're causing teams problems and we haven't got to forget that we got a point."

That point will count for little if Newcastle lose at Chelsea on Saturday though and, with the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool beginning to find their form, hopes of a return to the Champions League are receding fast.

Jenas remains confident a top-four finish is attainable, but accepts his side cannot keep conceding points from a winning position. "The Champions League is still a target," he said. "It's definitely still our number one target this season.

"I've got nothing against the UEFA Cup, but the Champions League is the place to be and, with the players we've got at this club, we've got to be there.

* Newcastle's trip to Arsenal has been put back 24 hours because of live coverage on Sky TV. The Magpies now visit Highbury on Sunday, January 23 (ko 4.05pm).

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