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Former City striker set to fight for his place in Newcastle team
Former Coventry City striker Leon Best has said he will not go out on loan now that he has recovered from an ankle injury and will stay at St. James' Park to fight for his place in the Newcastle side.
Best left Coventry on the last day of the January 2010 transfer window for a reported fee of around £0.5m (believe what you want on that score), but has failed to impress the The Toon Army.
It had been thought that Best would go on loan to get match fit and to try to find his form that led him to win international caps with the Republic of Ireland, but Best has rejected that option.
Best told the Journal Live: "Getting back playing is a massive boost for me. I want to bring the competition back for the strikers because if we are pushing each other, that is only going to benefit the team."
"I've been out for so long it has been hard, but it feels fantastic to be back. I definitely want to stay here. I've been sent out on loan since I was 17 years old and I'm not interested in going out on loan again really.
"I want to stay at Newcastle because I love it here and I want to help them do well. Whether that is from the bench, or starting games, whatever, I don't mind.
"I want to play, of course I do, but I love it here and I want to fight for my place here. I've got to wait for my chance and when it comes, make the most of it."
To win a place in the Newcastle side means he will have to oust in form Andy Carroll who has just won his first cap for England.
"I want to play, of course I do, but I love it here and I want to fight for my place here. I've got to wait for my chance and when it comes, make the most of it."
To win a place in the Newcastle side means he will have to oust in form Andy Carroll who has just won his first cap for England.