Former Newcastle United midfielder Rob Lee has said that he believes the Magpies will avoid relegation from the Premier League this season.

Steve McClaren's side currently sit in the bottom three on goal difference following their 5-1 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday, in which they shipped three goals inside the opening 20 minutes.

However, despite Lee admitting that his former club had been "awful" this season, he believes that Aston Villa, Norwich City and Swansea City are all more susceptible to the drop than Newcastle.

"I don't see them much live these days, but I wouldn't want to actually. They shouldn't be getting beaten like that, especially against Chelsea who are not exactly in the form of their lives. It was a poor result and a poor performance," he told PA.

"I'm not really worried. The performances have been awful but I just look at the other teams and I think there's three worse than Newcastle. Villa are in all sorts of trouble. They look dead and buried. Norwich are dropping like a stone. Swansea I think are in trouble.

"Sunderland are down there but they've got a goalscorer. If you've got someone like Jermain Defoe, you can always nick a goal and win a game, which is unfortunately what Newcastle can't do."

Newcastle are not in action again until March 2, when they take on Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.