Ryan Fraser has hit back at critics who thought Newcastle would go to Saudi Arabia for a 'jolly' in the aftermath of the Magpies 3-1 win over Everton.
The Scotland international was on the Premier League scoresheet for the first time in a black and white shirt and has paid tribute to the minor tweaks Eddie Howe has made in recent weeks.
The Magpies jetted off to Saudi Arabia, home of their wealthy new owners, in an attempt to kick start their campaign.
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The win over the Toffees is an early insight into what the trip has done for morale in the Magpies dressing room, but there's still a long way to go between now and the end of the season.
Fraser was rumoured to have fallen out with Howe during their time at Bournemouth, with the Scottish winger refusing to play the remaining games of the Premier League season.
However, both manager and player quashed those rumours when Howe was appointed head coach at St. James' Park and the pair have not looked back since.
Speaking in the aftermath of the win over Everton, Fraser gave an insight into some of the man management techniques used by Howe, to inspire their four game unbeaten run.
"Even going out to Saudi, that team bonding, small things like that, he thinks about everything the gaffer," Fraser told NUFC TV." Go karting and riding on camels, it was all together. Finding out more about each other. On Friday's we do timelines to know each player better.
"Personal stuff that maybe players didn't know about one another, but you respect them and it means you go out there and fight for each other when you know things that you maybe didn't before.
"The gaffer thinks about everything and we're bringing all that together now, four games unbeaten now and eight points from four games is huge."
Howe is well known for his meticulous preparation and despite the win over Everton, Fraser said there would be no day off in the aftermath, with attention quickly moving on to Aston Villa on Sunday.
Fraser said: "It's easy to give us a day off tomorrow, but we're in and we'll recover. It won't just be recovery it'll be the analysist's in.
"They'll probably be in at the training ground with the gaffer tonight and he won't go home. He'll be preparing for the next game and tomorrow we'll be reviewing every little thing on this game.
"We'll be reviewing Aston Villa and we'll be working hard. That's what he's like, there's no rest for him and there'll be no rest for us."
St. James' Park has been a different amphitheatre in recent weeks. The takeover, combined with an interesting January transfer window has brought back the feel good factor to Tyneside.
While Fraser knows the game against Steven Gerrard's side will be 'different' he was quick to praise the fans for their support against Everton.
"It'll be a different game," he said. "The fans are always unbelievable but the fans got us through that [Everton win]. At 1-0 down it's easy to turn on us but honestly they got us through.
"I look up and everyone's still cheering. It's something as a player you feel sorry for yourself when you're 1-0 down, but you look up and you see all the fans, you want to play even better. They got us through that tonight and look, it'll be a different game on Sunday but they'll be here on Sunday and we'll give our all."
