JONAS GUTIERREZ wants a favour from new Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat this weekend but only once Newcastle United have given their chances of a top half finish a boost at St James’ Park.

The Argentine winger, who learned Fabricio Coloccini’s appeal against his red card picked up against Everton was quashed yesterday, is still confident that the 11th placed Magpies can climb up the Premier League table.

And for that to happen Gutierrez knows Newcastle could do with Sunderland winning their first game under Advocaat at West Ham United on Saturday evening, shortly after the final whistle has blown following Arsenal’s visit to Tyneside.

The Hammers are four points above Newcastle with just nine matches remaining and interim head coach John Carver is desperate to achieve a place in the upper half of the Premier League to boost his chances of keeping the job full-time.

Gutierrez, regardless of where he is asked to play, is desperate to help after returning to the fold in recent weeks following his emotional comeback from testicular cancer.

He said: "Three years ago, when we finished fifth, I played in many positions. I was playing in different positions because we had problems with injuries.

"I'm here to help. I work hard and I want to enjoy. Always, I have to do the best for the team.

"We have to finish in the top ten. We don't have any excuses. We have hard games up to the finish of the season, but we have to take points and finish in the top ten.”

Newcastle’s cause has not been helped by Coloccini’s dismissal at Everton on Sunday. He was shocked to receive the sending-off after his lunge at Aaron Lennon at Goodison Park, even though he was heavily criticised for making the challenge.

An independent regulatory commission dismissed his appeal to have a three-match suspension overturned yesterday, so he will definitely miss the Wear-Tyne derby at the Stadium of Light on Easter Sunday plus the games with Arsenal and Liverpool either side of that.

Gutierrez said: "We don't have enough players at the moment. Colo is banned for three games. We have to keep together and work hard for the manager.

"The manager will tell us what we have to do. We have to do it right on the pitch. No excuses, we have to do it better.”

With Paul Dummett and Steven Taylor also sidelined, Mike Williamson is Newcastle’s only fit centre-back so Daryl Janmaat is the favourite to slot in at the heart of the defence against the Gunners.

That will inevitably lead to a gap at right-back, but Gutierrez does not think there is room for despondency and that Newcastle can still end the campaign strongly.

"We have to believe and be stronger at home when Arsenal come,” said Gutierrez. “We have a magnificent stadium with 52,000 fans. Of course, if we don't have a good game, the fans are going to be upset.

"If the fans see that we're doing our best and trying really hard, they are going to be behind us.

"If not, they are going to be upset. We have nine games to go, and we have to look forward and work hard to get the most points that we can.”

But he did not even attempt to paper over the huge cracks which emerged during the 3-0 defeat at Everton.

Gutierrez said: "As a team, we have to look inside and think what we're doing wrong. We have to do better and work hard for the manager and the team. It's not enough. This is the Premier League.

"We know we have a team that is young. We have to look forward and improve. We have to learn game by game, day by day. We're frustrated by the result, but we have to look inside and do better.”

Former Newcastle and Sunderland striker Michael Chopra, meanwhile, has signed for Scottish team Alloa Athletic.