The 20-year-old midfielder has emerged in the past 12 months as a regular in Alan Pardew's squad, but having started just two league games he wants to make the next step.
"I feel I'm past the stage of being the kid with no expectations they send on to run at defences," said the England Under-21 midfielder.
"Now I have to prove that week in, week out. I want to be a player who makes a real difference to the team. It is a big transition and a really tough thing to get your head around.
"We have to be as good as a Yohan [Cabaye] or a Hatem [Be Arfa] or a Demba [Ba] to stay in this team and now we have to take the responsibility on like they have. We can't look to them always.
"To be honest, I embrace the challenge. You have to."
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