It has been a difficult time for the 21-year-old midfielder since his £2.5m move from Liverpool in the summer, writes Graham Hiley.

A bright start to the campaign was interrupted by the abrupt departure of manager Kevin Keegan, the man who signed him.

Guthrie also picked up a high profile three-match ban for kicking out in frustration at Hull City striker Craig Fagan - and he recently lost his place when Joey Barton returned from a suspension of his own.

But with Barton sidelined by injury for around six weeks, Guthrie has the chance to establish himself in the Magpies first-team.

Now he is determined to make up for lost time and to assert himself as a key man for the Tyneside club.

He told www.premierleague.com: "This is a massive opportunity for me and I am hoping I can get a run of games now.

"The season started really well and then came the Keegan saga which went on and on with a dip in form and results.

"I got suspended which was silly and I lost my way a bit but now I am back in the team and looking to kick on from here.

"There is no point in looking back at what has gone on over the past few months; the focus has to be on going forward from here.

"With Joey being injured it is up to me to make sure I get a good run of games to show what I can do.

"It is really hard when you come into the side for the odd match but if you get a run of three to five games then you can pick up the pace and find some momentum.

"Newcastle fans have seen glimpses of the best of me because I felt I was playing really well at the start of the season.

"It was a great move for me. It was a hard decision to leave Liverpool but I knew I was not going to play as many games as I wanted there.

"I enjoyed my time on loan at Bolton last season and I was delighted I could help them to stay up but I knew I would be moving on in the summer.

"And when Newcastle came in for me it was just a question of how quickly I could get there because they are a massive club with really passionate fans.

"I am reasonably happy with my form - although I would like to get a few goals. That is my aim.

"When the manager left me out for Joey he did tell me that I had been playing well which was nice to hear although it did not make me feel much better.

"Now I have got to make the most of this chance and pick up sharpness to give the manager something to think about."

Interim manager Joe Kinnear's prolonged stay has created a more settled working environment for the players and Guthrie is pleased with their progress.

He added: "The manager is good to work with. He says his bit and if we are not performing then he lets us know.

"But he is quick to praise if we are doing well. He is pretty straightforward which is all you can ask for in a manager.

"The results speak for themselves and we have done well since he got here."

Although the Magpies are currently in the bottom three, the Barclays Premier League table is so tight that the league position counts for little right now.

Just six points separate Everton in seventh from Blackburn Rovers who are second from bottom and Guthrie knows the situation can quickly turn.

He said: "The table is crazy. There are so many teams packed together that the situation can change very quickly.

"At the moment everyone is beating each other and a couple of wins can lift you right up while a defeat can push you back down.

"We got a really good draw at Chelsea last week and now we have a tough local derby at Middlesbrough. If we can get something there and follow it up at home to Stoke then we could be right up in mid-table.

"It is amazing to see how tightly-bunched it is and if the table stays like that into the New Year then it could be a really interesting second half of the season."