Newcastle defender Dan Burn concedes it's been a tough season personally.
Burn has been barracked by his own fans at times this term.
He told BBC Sport: "It has been a challenging season. Obviously the amount of injuries, we don't want to use that as an excuse, but we've had a lot.
“This the first experience for the majority of lads playing European football, we needed that rest mentally as much as physically."
On his own season, Burn continued: “Yes it's been tough. You're playing against the best players in the world. It's all about consistency at this level and when you're not playing consistently you come in for criticism.
“I probably haven't hit the heights I did last season, but I'm still enjoying it and still want to prove people wrong. I've know I've got a lot of doubters but I've had that all my career so its not changed.
“I want to work hard and make those improvements.
