Gooch Still Battles For Contract

The centre-back was on duty with the States during the international break and helped them to a 3-1 win over Ecuador in Tampa, and he wants a future with the Magpies.

Onyewu is unlikely to return to Belgium at the end of the season, whether Newcastle want him or not, so he obviously wants to impress to get a new deal with someone.

Onyewu: "I'd definitely like to be here next year. I've settled in well with my team-mates and I am quite happy. This is a situation and place I'd like to be in come next season.

"Newcastle are a great club and it's a great city. I think I can learn a lot from the coach Glenn Roeder. I have to think optimistically and think that things will work out.

"It depends if the coach picks me, of course, because more players are coming back from injury. That means he has a lot more options for his line-up. I just have to continue trying to impress him and hopefully it will be enough.

"It's always good for the players to have competition and for the team in general because you cannot think like an individual, you have to compete for a place. In any situation you work and think for the team, no matter if you are on the field our not.

"We have a number of options in different positions so you have to keep working hard.

"It's difficult to come in mid-season and in a sense pick up the pace of everyone else straight away. But I think that coming in at the stage I did helps build character.

"Next year would be much better if I got a pre-season training schedule in with the rest of the team."