Andros Townsend would have loved to stay at Newcastle United, says player's father

But to get noticed at international level he says the winger had to leave the relegated Magpies, despite putting his "heart and soul" into keeping the club in the Premier League.

The England international left Tyneside for Crystal Palace this summer in a switch which banked United around £13million.

It was a move that left many United fans angry, given that Townsend only signed in January.

But it was a decision he did not take likely, according to his dad.

Want a round-up of today's Newcastle United news, give this link a click.Towsend Snr, speaking to Talksport, said: "Rafa done absolute wonders for him, ideally he would have loved to stay at the club.

"But if you’re gonna be noticed, if you’re gonna be recognised - obviously he had a massive disappointment in the summer (not being picked for the Euros) - and if you’re going to get yourself back in the area that he wants to be then unfortunately the Premier League is the only place to be.

"That’s obviously disappointing for Newcastle fans. But for the six months he was there I’m not sure there was another player - well there was a few - that put their heart and soul to try and keep that club where it rightly deserves to be.

"I know that some fans have not taken it in the right way and I can understand that, but it just goes to prove how much he did do in the time he was there."