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.
Sammy Ameobi: "I feel I'm past the stage of being the kid with no expectations they send on to run at defences.
"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."