Newcastle United hat-trick hero Demba Ba admits he is a Barnsley reject.

Failed trials at Watford and Barnsley are now long forgotten.

Ba said: "My agent paid for me to keep coming over to make it and I was always very determined I would get there in the end. I wasn't going to give up just because one or two people said no.

"It would not have mattered if they had brought a new striker in because it would have been good for the team. The manager is thinking about the team and the players have to think about it too. It would not bother me at all."