Striker Papiss Cisse remains committed to Newcastle amid continuing speculation over his future on Tyneside.
The 30-year-old Senegal international, who scored his 35th Premier League goal for the club in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Southampton, has been linked with Turkish duo Trabzonspor and Fenerbahce, as well as clubs in China and the Middle East, this summer amid the Magpies’ ongoing interest in QPR frontman Charlie Austin.
However, he insists he is focussed only on scoring goals in a black and white shirt as the transfer window enters its final few weeks.
Cisse told the Chronicle: “I have a contract at Newcastle United. I need to be professional every time I play. I don’t have a team to leave to.
“I am a Newcastle player. I try to work hard in every game I get.”
Cisse got the nod ahead of summer arrival Aleksandar Mitrovic for new head coach Steve McClaren’s first competitive game, and made his mark three minutes before the break when he cancelled out Graziano Pelle’s opener.
Mitrovic’s arrival has increased competition for places with Cisse and Emmanuel Riviere, while McClaren is hoping there could still be further business done with Austin a long-term target.
However Cisse, who missed 10 games through suspension and more because of injury last season, is not fazed by that.
He said: “Having other strikers makes me work harder. I know that there are two players behind me who want to play.
“Only hard work shows the gaffer what I can do, whether in the game, or in the training sessions.
I want to show him I want to play. I want to score goals to help this team get the wins.“