Cheik Tiote says he hopes Newcastle can build on their fifth-placed Premier League finish last season.
Tiote, 26, who joined Newcastle from FC Twente in 2010, told the Evening Chronicle: "We have grown in the last two seasons, and this time we hope to do bigger and better again."
The Ivorian midfielder has at times garnered criticism for his forceful style of play - having picked up 25 bookings in two seasons with the Magpies - but he insists his questionable disciplinary record is down to a desire to win all games, even friendlies.
"We don't look at the games as friendlies - you have got to still compete," Tiote said. "The fans are still coming to the games and travelling to see us. Every game we play, we do everything to win for them.
"Whenever I pull a shirt on, I play to win - every tackle, everything. Nobody plays to lose. When you play against any team, they should want to win too. It is normal."
Striker Shola Ameobi has warned Toon fans that repeating or improving on fifth place would be tough, telling The Journal: "It's certainly going to be really difficult to replicate what we did last season.
"Just look at teams such as Liverpool and Chelsea - I can't see them doing as badly this time in terms of where they finished in the league last season, so we are going to have to raise the bar again.
"If we did manage to do that, for me, it would mean finishing in a European spot again this season. Certainly, as I look back at my career with Newcastle, to do that this time would be our biggest-ever achievement."
