Andros Townsend is relishing playing for relegation-threatened Newcastle United

Newcastle United's Andros Townsend in action against Sunderland AFC

The winger arrived at the relegation-threatened club in January in a £12million deal.

Townsend had been relegated to Tottenham Hotspur’s Under-21 side by manager Mauricio Pochettino after a row with a fitness coach in October.

The 24-year-old is glad to be back playing Premier League football – having been turning out at non-league grounds late last year.

Rafa Benitez’s United side take on Crystal Palace at St James’s Park tomorrow knowing a win could lift them out of the relegation zone.

“Before Christmas, for two or three months I was in the Under-21s for Spurs playing at non-league grounds on Monday nights,” said Townsend.

“So I’m loving playing in the Premier League and I’m loving playing at big stadiums and showing people what I can do again.

“Obviously, it’s a difficult situation I’ve gone into.

“But I’m loving being back in the Premier League.”

Townsend has scored three goals for his new club, and he is desperate to contribute more in the final third of the pitch in the club’s final three matches.

“I’ve been happy with the amount of goals and assists I’ve been able to contribute to this team,” said Townsend.

“I know the hard work starts now.

“We’ve got three games left, and if we’re going to stay up, not just me, but the whole front four are going to need to contributes with goals and assists.”

United manager Benitez believes his team must win all of their remaining fixtures to have a chance of staying up.

And Townsend is hopeful Newcastle – who have taken five points from their three home games under Benitez – can beat Palace.

“We’re always confident,” said Townsend, who will face his former club Tottenham on the final day of the campaign.

“We’re a confident bunch of boys, especially at St James’s Park where we know we’re a match for anyone. We’ve shown this season we’re a match for anyone at home.

“Palace are a good side, but we’re going to go into the game full of confidence and hoping to get another three points.”

Townsend is understood to have a release clause in his United contract allowing him to leave for a reported £8million fee in the event of relegation.

However, he has given no indication that he will seek to leave if the club goes down.

Townsend still hopes to make Roy Hodgson’s England squad for Euro 2016.