bantambuff
Reserves Player
[M:500]
Most of my friends think that I am tempermental. That's 90% temper and 10% mental
Posts: 390
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Post by bantambuff on Feb 26, 2008 13:47:02 GMT
Looking at the games the barcodes have left............................
Newcastle v Blackburn 1 point Liverpool v Newcastle 0 points Birmingham v Newcastle 1 point Newcastle v Fulham 3 points Tottenham v Newcastle 0 points Newcastle v Reading 3 points Portsmouth v Newcastle 0 points Newcastle v Sunderland 1 point West Ham v Newcastle 1 point Newcastle v Chelsea 0 points Everton v Newcastle 0 points
10 points. Enough to stay up? Possibly.
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Post by Bismarck on Feb 27, 2008 19:06:21 GMT
Newcastle United boss Kevin Keegan is positive of having sufficient money at his disposal when the transfer window re-opens in the summer.
Keegan, who had failed to strengthen his squad during the January transfer window, is however concentrating now on getting the Toon out of their poor form and guide them to a decent finish in the Premiership this season.
The Toon are currently in 13th place, six points above the relegation zone.
“We haven’t really discussed it but I was promised money when I came so it’ll be there,” Keegan told the Evening Chronicle. “I don’t think I need worry about that.
“But the first thing I need to do is get to 40 points and make sure we’re in the Premier League. That’s still there to be done.
“Then I’ve got to go and get the three, four or five players that are hopefully going to turn this place around.
“I’ve got a small squad. There are so few options within this squad.”
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Post by Bismarck on Mar 1, 2008 1:58:34 GMT
Former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer has confessed that he is uncertain on taking up a official post at St. James’ Park.
Magpies manager Kevin Keegan strived to convince Shearer to become a part of his coaching staff. But the former Magpies skipper has so far refused to join the management.
"I don't know if I am going do management at some stage in my career," Shearer told Sky Sports News. "It interests me, yes, but I am happy in what I am doing at this moment in time.”
"What I have said to Kevin is, if I do have a spare day I will go in and maybe train with them and maybe do something with the forwards, but nothing has been planned."
Shearer, still supports Keegan who is yet to taste a win since his fresh tenure at the club since January.
"Kevin is not a miracle worker," added Shearer. "There was obviously problems there beforehand, he has had to go in and sort them out and he has to get his own players in during the summer - it is as simple as that.”
"I am pretty convinced they won't go down, they are still too good for that to happen.”
"The players are just short of confidence, they just need a win and once that happens I am sure you will see a different team."
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Post by Bismarck on Mar 1, 2008 2:01:26 GMT
Newcastle United are reportedly ready to sign Senegal defender Lamine Diatta, who is a free agent, on a short-term deal, as Kevin Keegan aims to keep his side away from the relegation fears.
The Toon are currently in 13th place, six points above the relegation zone. But their dreadful form has prompted fears that they might get sucked into the drop zone and Keegan is said to be keen to bolster the defence.
According to skysports.com, 32-year-old Diatta, who bought himself out of his contract with Besiktas, is believed to have travelled over to England earlier this week and although he had been linked with Birmingham and Wigan, “it appears Newcastle have jumped to the head of the queue.”
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Post by Bismarck on Mar 1, 2008 2:17:52 GMT
Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan has revealed that a decision on whether they sign Senegal captain Lamine Diatta, who is a free agent and can be signed outside a transfer window, will be taken in four days.
The 32-year-old defender will be on trials in this period and the Toon boss, who is keen to get his side out of their prolonged slump with the leaky defence apparently in some need of urgent repair, will be taking a close look at the former Besiktas, Lyon, Rennes and Marseille man.
"We brought in Diatta for four days. It's a chance to have a look at him," Keegan said on Sky Sports News.
"He's captain of Senegal. Obviously a couple of the players know him. We'll have a look. He's a player we can sign.
"We'll make up our minds on Tuesday. That's what I've told him."
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Post by likeasharkinafunnyhat on Mar 1, 2008 2:21:35 GMT
Scraping the bottom of the barrel...? Or an inspired signing...?
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Post by Bismarck on Mar 1, 2008 2:25:41 GMT
Yes....clutching at straws......
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Post by arover on Mar 1, 2008 11:51:20 GMT
2 out of the last 3 Newcastle managers have departed after home defeats to Blackburn.
Souness & Roeder.
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Post by SaintTim on Mar 1, 2008 12:20:26 GMT
Newcastle must be rubbish even Derby beat them
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Post by hallmackem on Mar 1, 2008 12:52:26 GMT
I know there's all this "Oh i hope Newcastle stay up just for the derby games." from Sunderland fans... monkey's that, i want them to go down so we can have a good laugh at them. I thought they were upposed to be challenging for European spots this season Kevin Keegan hasn't won yet with them and that ain't going to change for a while.
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Post by arover on Mar 4, 2008 12:35:20 GMT
Ridiculous wage bill:
£62.5m wages bill
Newcastle United's latest accounts reveal that almost three-quarters of the revenue generated by the club was spent on wages. A staggering 72% of income - or £62.5m - drained straight back out as salaries, with the players the principal beneficiaries. Analysts generally agree that football clubs should aim to spend at most 50% of revenue on wages but the recruitment of Damien Duff and Obafemi Martins in 2006 and Joey Barton in 2007 have proved particularly expensive. The first set of published accounts since Mike Ashley bought out the Hall family and Chris Mort succeeded Freddy Shepherd as chairman also show that, despite increased gate receipts and merchandising profits, Newcastle suffered an overall loss of £32.9m. After buying the club, Ashley was forced to invest a further £75m simply to ensure it remained a going concern. While Shepherd's pay-off will not be known until the next accounts are published, his annual salary exceeded £500,000.
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Post by Bismarck on Mar 4, 2008 12:41:24 GMT
And that's just Michael Owen.....
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Post by Bismarck on Mar 4, 2008 13:02:42 GMT
Newcastle United spokesman has dismissed reports that there were ‘crisis talks’ held between Mike Ashley and manager Kevin Keegan after this weekend’s defeat to Blackburn.
The Toon are in danger of getting sucked into the relegation zone as they currently find themselves only three points above the bottom-three.
Keegan is still looking to get his first win in charge of the Toon for second spell, in seven games now.
A club spokesman told The Times that he "couldn't comment on what may or may not have been said in a private conversation".
He added: "Mike always has a drink with the players and managers after the game and it sounds like someone has seen him talking to Kevin and jumped to the wrong conclusion."
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Post by Bismarck on Mar 4, 2008 13:03:31 GMT
According to reports, Newcastle United boss Kevin Keegan is readying a £6 million bid for Celtic striker Scott McDonald.
The Toon are currently in a shaky position in the Premiership as just three points keep them above the relegation zone.
However, The Daily Mail claims that Keegan is listing out his summer targets for his expected £50m war chest and as such the Tynesiders have watched McDonald and team-mate Aiden McGeady.
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Post by Bismarck on Mar 4, 2008 18:38:44 GMT
Following their last-minute 1-0 defeat at home to Blackburn at the weekend, Newcastle midfielder/striker Alan Smith has issued a rallying cry to his teammates. “We’ve got to show to everyone that we want to fight for the cause. It’s getting tight but you always knew it would do. We looked at our home games as ones that were winnable, and one was Blackburn. We’ve deserved criticism on occasions this season and we’re all big enough to accept that. It’s up to us as a team, as players, and as people to sort that out.”
Alan Smith is one of two renowned fighters in the Newcastle line-up along with Joey Barton. It is clear that Smith can ‘talk the talk’ but I don’t think Newcastle fans are quite so confident that he can ‘walk the walk’.
I have looked at various fans forums and websites and it seems that most of the Toon Army can’t decide who was the worst buy out of Smith and Barton. At a time when the team need to fight for every point you would think these two would be invaluable, but it seems they are not.
With the possible exception of fans on Wearside and Teesside Newcastle became everybody’s second favourite team back in the nineties during Keegan’s first spell as manager of the club. The football they played was exhillarating and entertaining. With Ginola, Asprilla, Shearer and Ferdinand, they were a joy to watch. OK, they never knew how to defend, but boy could they attack. For a neutral, it was always great to see that they were playing in the live game on a Sunday.
Now Newcastle are not great to watch. The last time I saw them playing live they lost 4-1 at Aston Villa and to be honest, they looked a total shambles. Since then they have lost two games at home, the 5-1 humiliation by Manchester United, and the unlucky last minute defeat by Blackburn. They have played seven league games under Keegan this time around and haven’t won any. They’ve scored three and conceded seventeen in that time. So what is going wrong?
Kevin Keegan returned to St James’ Park as the Geordie Messiah. His appointment was greeted with joy on Tyneside, cautious optimism by most pundits and surprise by some. It was clear that Big Sam Allardyce’s position was becoming untenable due to fan pressure and the fact that owner Mike Ashley hadn’t selected him in the first place. However, a look back will show that when Allardyce was fired, Newcastle were sitting in eleventh place in the table, nine points clear of the drop zone. That is a position that any Newcastle fan would swap for now.
Since Keegan took over there have been some very strange goings on at Newcastle. Particularly the appointment of Dennis Wise. The day before this appointment, Keegan seemed to suggest that he knew nothing about it. On the day of the appointment Keegan claimed he had been fully involved and had been an integral part of the process.
During the transfer window Keegan was linked with a move for Jonathan Woodgate, but he chose to go to Tottenham. Keegan was linked with several other players who never made it to St James’ Park. Somewhat bizarely, Keegan claimed at the end of the window that he had decided he didn’t want to buy anyone because he didn’t need them. Now, of course, he is saying he inherited this team and needs to get to the summer when he can bring in four or five new players.
We have had the ‘will he won’t he’ saga of whether Alan Shearer was going to join the coaching staff. Keegan seemed to be putting positive signals out which appeared to have no basis in truth, and had to be denied by Shearer.
I fear that the owner and the chairman were scared by the anger of the Toon Army earlier in the season and brought in Keegan in an attempt to pacify them. The very public moves to try to get Shearer on board may well have been for the same reasons.
Now after the latest defeat we have tabloid reports of crisis talks at Newcastle and an interesting interview with Chairman Chris Mort in which he gives Keegan the dreaded vote of confidence. “The board is 100% behind Kevin, and there is no doubt or worry that he will walk away,” Mort told BBC Radio Five.
With Keegan’s track record of walking away from jobs, and the fact that the Chairman has even mentioned it, I would guess that there have indeed been some ‘crisis talks’.
Recent reports suggested that the club’s finanaces are not looking good and there is now a public row about whether Steven Taylor, one of the genuinely bright prospects at Newcastle will be given a new contract. These items were covered by Ahmed yesterday.
So with the team sitting just three points off the drop zone and facing a game at Anfield, are they seriously in trouble? With Reading, Birmingham, Sunderland and Wigan all picking up points on Saturday, and showing some fighting spirit, I would say that they definitely are in trouble. They still have to play Birmingham, Fulham, Reading and Sunderland. Each of those games will be crucial for the Magpies.
The fact is that Newcastle are not ‘too good to go down’. It could happen. Derby are definitely down and Fulham look to be in some trouble, but the third place is wide open. If Newcastle do not sort things out quickly, they may well drop into that place.
The basic fact is that whatever managerial changes have taken place, whatever problems there are off the field, a team containing Shay Given, Steven Taylor, Joey Barton, Alan Smith, James Milner, Obafemi Martins, Michael Owen and other top, top players, should not be in the position they find themselves in.
Some of these players need to take a good look at themselves in the mirror and ask if they are doing enough. It’s time for the likes of Alan Smith to ‘walk the walk’.
It would be a shame to see a team with the fan base and reputation of Newcastle drop into the Championship, but I fear too many poor decisions based on the wrong reasons have been made. I truly hope that King Kev can rescue them and the players can do what they are paid to do. There is little sign so far that either of those things is going to happen.
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Post by Rachael <3 on Mar 8, 2008 10:49:27 GMT
For that i don't know, but we only lost 4 nil not 5-1 and we've still have a home record for the past 5 games
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Post by Tyler on Mar 8, 2008 12:02:48 GMT
Well at least they scored.
I want both of them to go down with Derby.
I don't want Derby to go down though, but it's heading that way
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Post by stealth1039 on Mar 8, 2008 13:07:34 GMT
If ever there were a club in crisis Newcastle are it, as just about everything possible is wrong - no communication, finances in a dire state & a team with no confidence. Add to that going in to freefall just at the wrong time of the season & it sure doesn't look good.
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Post by Tyler on Mar 8, 2008 13:14:17 GMT
If i'm honest the finger can only be pointed at Mike Ashley.
He let his heart rule his head by appointing Keegan
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Post by FezNTFC on Mar 9, 2008 16:15:52 GMT
Can anyone else hear the relegation bells ringing? Imagine if they got relegated
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Post by hallmackem on Mar 9, 2008 19:36:43 GMT
Massive party in Sunderland if that happened. Provided we don't go as well
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Post by Lukiebakercafc on Mar 9, 2008 19:44:04 GMT
It would be legendary if Newcastle went down. People are still saying "no - they'll turn it around - they're too big and good to go down"! Well - where are the points coming from? They aren't picking up any.
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Post by Bismarck on Mar 10, 2008 14:33:57 GMT
Kevin Keegan believes his Newcastle United side have the spirit and ability to escape relegation from the Premier League.
Fernando Torres scored his 19th league goal of the season to help boost Liverpool's bid to finish fourth with a 3-0 win over the struggling Magpies.
Jermaine Pennant and Steven Gerrard also scored in the victory.
Newcastle's latest defeat made it 12 league matches without a win, and if the teams below them all win their games in hand the Geordies will be in the bottom three.
But Keegan said: 'Our players are a tight-knit group and we all believe we have the ability and quality to stay in this division.
'We are very confident of that. You need 40 points to stay up and we need four wins to do that. We will do it.'
Benitez, meanwhile, was delighted with the growing partnership of Gerrard and Torres, and was able to withdraw them both in the second half to rest them in preparation for tomorrow night's Champions League clash against Inter Milan.
Benitez explained: 'I must be happy with a performance like that.
'Three goals, three points, nothing conceded and I was able to rest key players ahead of the Champions League.
'In every way it was just a perfect day for us. Our confidence is growing, as is the partnership with Gerrard and Torres.
'They are working well and the other players are making sure they have the time and the space to show their quality and pace.'
Shane Long and Dave Kitson scored as Reading claimed a 2-0 win over Manchester City at the Madejski Stadium which lifted them out of the relegation places.
But Steve Coppell insists none of his Reading players can 'relax' despite the win.
'We have to accumulate a certain number of points, and we cannot relax in any way,' declared the Royals manager.
'We are all on a mission to ensure we are playing in this division again next season.
'It is congested down there.'
Relegation candidates Fulham managed to come from behind to salvage a point against Blackburn at Ewood Park.
Morten Gamst Pedersen had put Rovers ahead in the 59th minute with a header from Jason Roberts' cross.
But Fulham midfielder Jimmy Bullard curled home a free-kick into the top-left corner of the net to equalise in the 89th minute.
Roy Hodgson's side remain five points adrift of safety.
And the former Inter Milan boss said: 'Certainly the performance against a good Blackburn team was not unworthy of the three points today.'
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Post by Bismarck on Mar 10, 2008 14:34:14 GMT
Kevin Keegan believes his Newcastle United side have the spirit and ability to escape relegation from the Premier League.
Fernando Torres scored his 19th league goal of the season to help boost Liverpool's bid to finish fourth with a 3-0 win over the struggling Magpies.
Jermaine Pennant and Steven Gerrard also scored in the victory.
Newcastle's latest defeat made it 12 league matches without a win, and if the teams below them all win their games in hand the Geordies will be in the bottom three.
But Keegan said: 'Our players are a tight-knit group and we all believe we have the ability and quality to stay in this division.
'We are very confident of that. You need 40 points to stay up and we need four wins to do that. We will do it.'
Benitez, meanwhile, was delighted with the growing partnership of Gerrard and Torres, and was able to withdraw them both in the second half to rest them in preparation for tomorrow night's Champions League clash against Inter Milan.
Benitez explained: 'I must be happy with a performance like that.
'Three goals, three points, nothing conceded and I was able to rest key players ahead of the Champions League.
'In every way it was just a perfect day for us. Our confidence is growing, as is the partnership with Gerrard and Torres.
'They are working well and the other players are making sure they have the time and the space to show their quality and pace.'
Shane Long and Dave Kitson scored as Reading claimed a 2-0 win over Manchester City at the Madejski Stadium which lifted them out of the relegation places.
But Steve Coppell insists none of his Reading players can 'relax' despite the win.
'We have to accumulate a certain number of points, and we cannot relax in any way,' declared the Royals manager.
'We are all on a mission to ensure we are playing in this division again next season.
'It is congested down there.'
Relegation candidates Fulham managed to come from behind to salvage a point against Blackburn at Ewood Park.
Morten Gamst Pedersen had put Rovers ahead in the 59th minute with a header from Jason Roberts' cross.
But Fulham midfielder Jimmy Bullard curled home a free-kick into the top-left corner of the net to equalise in the 89th minute.
Roy Hodgson's side remain five points adrift of safety.
And the former Inter Milan boss said: 'Certainly the performance against a good Blackburn team was not unworthy of the three points today.'
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Post by Bismarck on Mar 10, 2008 14:56:52 GMT
Newcastle United boss Kevin Keegan has reiterated his wish to bring silverware to the Tyneside club, but currently his main task would be to keep their top-flight status intact.
The Toon have slid to 15th place in the Premiership standings and are only three points above the relegation zone, while Keegan, who is into his second spell at St James’ Park, is winless after eight games since taking over after Sam Allardyce was sacked earlier this year.
“The fans deserve better than what we are giving them,” he said in the Journal.
“That’s my intention, to turn this club around and give them what they deserve, which is silverware. We nearly did it once. That is still my intention.
“It seems a long way off at the moment but football is a strange game. It takes time to get things right but if you turn it round it can move at pace as well. We have seen it happen at this club before. My belief is we can make it happen again. It might look a long way off but I can see it. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Last time it didn’t happen as quickly as people imagine.
“I have three-and-a-half years to try to win a trophy. That’s my objective. I don’t think it will be a league title because of the vast gap that exists now.
“That gap didn’t exist before. But I believe that once we turn, it is a big club and the momentum takes it on.”
Ahead of a crucial clash against the relegation-battling Birmingham City, the former England manager added: “It will be difficult because they (Birmingham) are a team around you, but if you get a result it is not only going to help your cause you are knocking them down as well.
“We just need to win a match and the sooner the better. Hopefully that will give us confidence. That is the biggest single factor in the way we are playing.”
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Post by Bismarck on Mar 12, 2008 10:40:49 GMT
Newcastle United skipper Michael Owen has revealed haplessness in countering the criticism coming their way as Kevin Keegan’s side are slipping towards the drop zone.
The Toon, who have not won since December in the Premiership, are currently only three points above the relegation zone and Keegan is yet to taste a win in eight games since taking charge of the Tynesiders for his second spell, in January.
England striker Owen, who has scored just four goals in 20 league appearances this season, is also frustrated at the situation he is facing as he has never been in these circumstances earlier in his career when he played for the European powerhouses Liverpool and Real Madrid.
"Let's not think Newcastle are in this position every year," he told Sky Sports News. "It's strange for Newcastle as well to be at the wrong end of the table.
"It's a frustrating time for myself, it's a frustrating time for the club and we need to get some results to stave off the criticism.
"We're sitting ducks at the minute. People can criticise me and people can criticise the club and anyone they want, and we haven't got a leg to stand on in reply.
"I've had some great times in my career. At 28, I'd like to think there's plenty of great times ahead.
"But, first things first, we need to pick up some results for Newcastle and get all this negative talk away from us really."
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Post by Bismarck on Mar 12, 2008 10:41:23 GMT
Former Manchester United striker Giuseppe Rossi has said Newcastle United loan spell helped him to “grow as a person.”
The 21-year-old Italy U-21 international had played for the Toon in the first half of the 2006-07 season, but failed to find the net in his 11 appearances in the Premiership.
Rossi, who moved to Villarreal in the summer, told setantasports.com: “It’s easy to talk after the experience.
“But I made a decision I thought it was a good one. I only played 11 games, and I consider it wasn’t much.
“But it was a learning experience. You don’t only learn from the positive experience, you actually learn more from the negative ones.
“So therefore playing for Newcastle United and being part of that team helped me to grow as a person.”
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Post by Bismarck on Mar 13, 2008 19:24:07 GMT
Newcastle United are sweating on the availability of winger James Milner for Monday’s Premiership visit to Birmingham City, while striker Mark Viduka is expected to be fully fit for the crucial game with both sides fighting to ward off the threat of relegation.
England U-21 star, Milner suffered a foot problem during their 3-0 loss at Liverpool last Saturday. However, X-ray has shown there is no break, but the 22-year-old is to visit a specialist before a decision is made on a return to training, according to Sunderland Echo.
Australian ace, Viduka is set to be fully fit after his calf and hamstring problems, and Toon boss Kevin Keegan will be hopeful of seeing the powerful forward continue his habit of scoring against Birmingham.
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Post by Bismarck on Mar 19, 2008 9:53:09 GMT
Liverpool’s John Arne Riise is being linked with a move to Newcastle United and the defender has preferred to remain mum on the speculation.
The 27-year-old versatile Norwegian international, who has also found his name linked with Aston Villa in the past, has struggled to make a regular place in Rafa Benitez’s side this season. And as such, there has been widespread speculation on his Anfield future although he had earlier stressed that he would like to stay with the Reds until the end of his career.
However, the speculation has not ceased and with summer approaching, his name has again been dragged into the possible target list for Kevin Keegan’s side, who are currently fighting to stay away from the relegation zone.
Riise's representative, Jan Kvalheim told the Dagbladet website: "This is just speculation and John Arne will not comment on this."
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Post by Bismarck on Mar 21, 2008 11:58:23 GMT
Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle United, who are fighting to keep away from the relegation zone, have been boosted as defender Peter Ramage is eager to get into the first-team after his lengthy injury-enforced lay-off, and striker Shola Ameobi got a goal for the reserves.
Ramage, 24, had suffered a cruciate ligament damage during the Tyne-Tees derby back in August, but returned to reserves action on Tuesday night playing through 65 minutes.
"I am dying to get back to the first team picture - it has been a long seven months," he told nufc.co.uk.
"It's great to be back and good to play that first game.
"It's been a long time, a frustrating time for me especially the way the season has gone.
"For me personally it was just great to play again and everything was fine.
"All I want to do now is be part of the team that gets out of trouble in the Premier League for Newcastle.
"The aim is to finish on a high.
"And hopefully I can help the team finish well and get out of this situation."
The Toon have struggled to find the target and that has been their problem area, but Ameobi, who has made only two first-team appearances since September, struck with a late header in the 2-2 draw for the reserves and it would have given his confidence a big lift as he eyes a first-team role with eight games remaining.
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