Kyle targets bright start to 2015

Kyle Walker admitted Chelsea look a tough proposition ahead of our latest London derby – but he sees no reason why we can’t be the team to inflict their second league defeat of the season.

Newcastle United are the only side to topple the current league leaders on the domestic stage so far this term, winning 2-1 at St James’ Park on December 6.

We succumbed to a 3-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge at the start of December, but have since lost only once in seven matches in all competitions.

With four wins and a draw from our last five fixtures, right-back Kyle says we need to take the game to the Blues on New Year’s Day and try to get a positive result.

“I watched Chelsea against Stoke recently when they won 2-0 and they were very good,” he said.

“Defensively they’re fantastic. They’re experienced at the back and are a very good team – it’s going to be difficult.

“However, as I always say, with the lads that we’ve got in the dressing room, why can’t we go out there and take the game to them?

“They’re coming to our ground, they’ll be on our patch so we need to take it to them and show them what we can do.”

Eden Hazard opened the scoring against us in our previous meeting with the Blues a month ago – and he’s someone Kyle is keen to ensure is kept at bay at the Lane this time around.

“From when I last played him he’s now even more of a tricky opponent,” said the England international, who was coming to the end of a nine-month spell on the sidelines when we visited Stamford Bridge on December 3.

“He’s confident at the moment so I’m going to have to be on my game and try to run him the other way.

“I need to make him try to defend which he probably doesn’t want to do and hopefully I can pin him back.”