JONAS GUTIERREZ has made Harry Redknapp purr over his personal performances and now he wants the rest of the Premier League to respect the merits of Newcastle United.

The Magpies made it eight matches undefeated in the top-flight with a 2-2 draw with Tottenham on Sunday, which was enough to keep them in fourth place.

Throw in progress to the fifth round of the Carling Cup, a defensive record that compares to Manchester United and Manchester City and it is little wonder Gutierrez , pictured far right above, is satisfied.

But it was his own display that caught Redknapp’s eye on Sunday. Not only did the South American’s dribble and cross tee up Demba Ba’s goal, but the winger was also a constant menace to full-back Kyle Walker.

Tottenham have been linked with Gutierrez in the past and Redknapp, who boasts plenty of attacking talent in his own squad, singled him out as one of Newcastle’s most improved players.

“Harry Redknapp is a really good manager and when he speaks you listen, so for him to speak about me and say nice things is good to hear,” said Gutierrez.

“I try to improve in every game I play and I have improved.

With time and matches you always gain more experience and improve.

“This is my fourth season here in England, this is the first season really where we have been so high up the table.

We have been down and then up while I have been here; never this high.

“For Redknapp to speak about me when he has players like Gareth Bale and Luka Modric in his team playing on the wing is nice. I must be doing something right.”

Tottenham could have moved up to fourth had they won comfortably at St James’ Park, but they found out why teams have found it so hard to beat Newcastle this season.

And with the next three Premier League fixtures - Wigan, Stoke and Everton - against teams Newcastle would expect to at least match, hopes are growing of a stay in the top eight this season.

But with Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea all up after that, Gutierrez knows the table could soon turn around if the squad allow performance levels to drop.

He said: “Every season is different. Last season we did well against good teams and lost against the poorer teams.

“This season we have drawn against the top teams so far like Tottenham and Arsenal and we are beating the teams that we should be beating.

We look strong but we have to keep that up.

“I don’t care about what people think about Newcastle.

All I am bothered about is making sure we improve with every game and stay focused.

“It will be hard to stay in the top four, we know that. There are a lot of good teams in the league. Here at Newcastle we are trying to play good football and keep the ball.

“We deserve to be fourth.

Nobody has beaten us yet so we deserve it. We have a great opportunity next weekend to take the three points. Against Tottenham many would not have thought we would win but we came very close to beating Spurs. We are playing really well.”

It was the impressive start to the campaign under manager Alan Pardew - Newcastle’s best since 1994 - that helped convince Gutierrez his future lies at St James’ Park.

During the summer there was interest from Italy and Spain, but he was happy to sign a four-year deal at the end of last month - and he has high hopes of success before he leaves.

He said: “It would be good if we could be in Europe again by the time we reach the end of my contract. It is too early, though, to talk about that. We have to go game by game, it is a long season and we are heading in the right direction.

“November will be tough because we play Man City, Man U and then Chelsea.

Then we play nine games through December, so that will be a big two months for us. We have to focus on that and keep going.”

• Newcastle have rejected Derby County’s attempt to sign defender James Perch on loan.

Pardew is keen to keep Perch on Tyneside as cover despite him not making a single Premier League appearance so far this season.

• Peter Beardsley has been appointed as Newcastle’s new football development manager, signing a five-year deal.

The former reserves boss has been charged with the task of “driving forward the recruitment of talented youngsters into the club’s academy and development squad, while retaining his involvement in the coaching of young players.”

Willie Donachie has taken over Beardsley’s former position in charge of the reserves, and will take his first game this evening when Newcastle entertain Liverpool.