Demba Ba: "I never talked to anyone to say I wanted to leave.
"I was just listening to people saying: 'He's going there, he's going there, he's going there' and I had a big smile on my face. It was funny to me.
"The most important thing is being happy with your football and I am happy here.
"I look at the table and think 'Fifth? Woah!' We just need to continue our road, continue doing what we're doing this season and see where we are in the end.
"We need to keep our focus but as long as we do that, we'll have some very good games.
"I don't want to talk about exactly where we'll finish because it depends on a lot of things but as long as we keep going we'll be a dangerous side.
"Papiss Cisse was a great signing.
"I was very happy when he signed.
"I wasn't too bothered who we signed as long as we got a new striker it would help us. But fortunately for me it was someone from my country who I know well and I know how good he is.
"He talked to me before he signed a little bit. I just said to him 'Go on - sign'. He asked everything about Newcastle - how were the supporters, the club.
"I've not told him everything because I want him to see for himself what it is like here. But he's going to see it now. He loved the reception he got."