Cheick Tiote focused on tackling Newcastle's problems after end of transfer saga

Cheick Tiote's focused on keeping Newcastle United up after putting his Chinese transfer saga behind him.
Cheick Tiote, leftCheick Tiote, left
Cheick Tiote, left

The midfielder’s proposed £4million switch to Shanghai Shenhua broke down last month.

A number of other Chinese Super League clubs, including Beijing Guoan Guangzhou Evergrande, were also interested in signing Tiote ahead of tomorrow’s transfer deadline.

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But the 29-year-old is set to stay at relegation-threatened United until the summer.

Newcastle head coach Steve McClaren will be relieved when the Chinese window finally closes and ends months of uncertainty about Tiote’s future. Speaking earlier this month, McClaren said: “We didn’t want him to leave (for Shanghai).

“He fights on the field – he genuinely wants the ball. He never gives up, and he epitomises what we want from this team.”

Tiote – has a year and a half left on his United contract – is likely to keep his place for next Wednesday’s game against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.

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Meanwhile, Newcastle’s Callum Roberts has been honoured for his goalscoring start to the year.

The talented forward has won the Barclays Under-21 Premier League player of the month award for January after scoring two goals in three games.

Roberts netted twice in a 4-2 home win at West Bromwich Albion and also scored in Newcastle’s 4-3 Premier League Cup defeat away to Everton. However, the 18-year-old – who has made his first-team debut in last season’s FA Cup defeat to Leicester City – did not make the senior squad for last week’s training camp in La Manga, Spain.

United head coach Steve McClaren took 26 players to the training complex, but pacy Roberts was not included in the travelling party.

North Shields-born Roberts is a candidate for a loan spell away from Relegation-threatened Newcastle.

The Football League’s emergency loan window is open until March 24.