Shola For The World Cup?

Shola told the Chronicle today: "I want to push on and get in the World Cup squad - that's my aim. That's the target I set for myself - you have to aim high and that's what I'm doing.

"If I play well this season and bang a few goals in I'll have a chance of playing in a few England friendlies and that's what I'm looking for. I really need to show people what I can do. I view this season as a massive one for me.

"The World Cup's at the end of it and I'm aiming for that. If I don't get there I'll see it as a failure. That's the bottom line. I want to get in that squad and by doing that I've got to play well for Newcastle United and score goals. That's my main priority this season - to score goals.

"I want to be consistent for the whole season. I want to get a good run of games and score a few goals. Hopefully, if I do that, I'll get in the England set-up. I think I thrive on responsibility. If there's a lot on my shoulders, I feed off that. I feel I've come in and done a decent job when we've been short of strikers."