Newcastle United need to have an intense winning mentality next season if they are to improve on the fifth place finish that they achieved last season according to defender Mike Williamson.

Newcastle United striker Demba Ba has said that he is not looking to leave the north-east club at this moment and has laughed off any rumours suggesting that he might move soon.

Demba Ba arrived on a free transfer from West Ham United in the summer, and he has been one of the best signings of the summer.

Newcastle United loan star Hatem Ben Arfa says that he is pleased with the start that the club and himself have made this season. Ben Arfa, who is on a season-long loan at Newcastle from Marseille, marked his first start for the Magpies with a stunning winner in the 1-0 victory at Everton on Saturday.

The French international is settling into life on Tyneside and he is delighted with his start at his new club. "Sometimes in football you have to take a risk," said Ben Arfa. "I knew about Newcastle United and when I came there for the first time, you could see how big it was.

Newcastle have pulled off a major coup in the transfer market by signing young sensation, Dan Gosling on a free transfer. The 20-year-old was entitled to leave Everton on a free transfer after the club failed to give a written offer to the out-of-contract player by mid-May.

"It's a brilliant move for me - now that the deal is done, I can't wait to get started," Gosling told the Newcastle club website.

"I've played at St James' Park and know about the great atmosphere."

RANGERS believe Newcastle United have re-entered the race to sign striker Kris Boyd after Birmingham City turned their attentions elsewhere.

Boyd has been courted by City all summer and had expected to move to St Andrew’s when his contract at Ibrox expires at the end of June.

But Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is attempting to follow up the £6m signing of Nikola Zigic by beating Wolves to the £7m capture of Burnley’s Steven Fletcher, which would signal the end of his interest in Boyd.