Aston Villa v Newcastle: Skipper Sissoko looks to give everything in survival bid

Sissoko – handed the captain’s armband when stand-in skipper Jonjo Shelvey was left out of the team last month – will lead the Magpies out at Villa Park tomorrow knowing a win could see Newcastle have their destiny back in their own hands – if Sunderland fail to beat Chelsea at the Stadium of Light.

“I’m lucky that since I’ve been captain we’ve won some games and drawn some games, so that’s good for me, for the team, for everyone,” said Sissoko, who made his Newcastle debut at Villa Park in January 2013.

“When you have the armband, you have more responsibility in the team, so I know that I’m an important player for the team and I need to give everything.

“Even at the beginning (of the season) when it was hard, I tried to help my team-mates.

“Now we are in a good moment, so we need to keep going until the end.

“We have two games left, and it won’t be easy, but if we do it I’m sure we will stay up.”

On the honour of captaining Newcastle, the 26-year-old added: “You can ask everyone – if a player has the armband he will be happy, because that means a lot for the player.

“It also means that the manager believes in you, and that give you a lot of confidence, which is good.

“I’m very proud to be captain of this team.”