Shola Ameobi has declared he wants to stay with Newcastle United.

The striker told the Evening Chronicle: "I still want to be a Newcastle United player, and I still am. That's where my focus is.

"I had quite a few injuries last season. There were different things that kept me back and stopped me being as fit as I should have been.

"I missed a lot of pre-season last year with a thigh problem, and that's what held me back.

"I wasn't fit enough to challenge for a place in the team. This season I've made sure I've been right. I've worked very hard. The manager wants us to be one of the fittest teams in the league."