Demba Ba has been in blistering form for Newcastle so
far this campaign
ANDY CARROLL has scored only four Premier
League goals since his £35 million move from Newcastle to
Liverpool, while his replacement on Tyneside who cost the grand
total of nothing can boast an impressive 20 strikes.
Demba Ba scored seven times for West Ham at the back
end of last season to trigger a move to Newcastle, where he has
scored 13 goals in 14 starts.
Only Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney have scored more
Premier League goals in 2011 and Ba is flattered to be associated
with such company. “It is great,” he said. “It is a compliment to
me when you see the background of these guys at the top and you see
my background. I have a lot of confidence at the moment.
“I have never been in such good form. I have never had
this kind of run before.
“Other strikers at the top are scoring goals for
Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal. They probably get
more chances, but I am doing this for my team-mates, for the club
and for the fans. I don’t target any goals. I just target how I
feel and how I am playing and, at the moment, I am doing well. As
long as I am having fun I am happy.”
Senegal striker Ba will leave for the African Nations
Cup in mid-January and could be on duty for his country for up to
six weeks.
Newcastle visit Bolton today and Ba said: “It will be a
terrible blow to leave the team. This is my club and I am proud of
it, but this is also for my country.
“I am not going there for a holiday. I have mixed
feelings about going away, but I have to do it. I want to make my
people and my country proud. I will feel sad leaving at this stage
because everything is going well, although we need to improve some
of our results.
“When I got the call from Newcastle in the summer I
decided quickly what I wanted to do. I made a good choice.
“I thought Newcastle were a club I could trust. I said
to my agent to look at the club and tell me what he thought,
whether I would be all right up there. He told me Newcastle would
be the best choice and he was right. It was.”
