ALAN Smith is determined to prove his worth to Newcastle United in their battle to avoid the drop as the striker struggles to justify his place in the side because of a lack of goals this season.
Smith’s effort and commitment cannot be questioned at St James’s Park, but his lack of goals since his £6m move from Manchester United last summer is a major concern.
In his defence, the 27-year-old played much of his football under former manager Sam Allardyce in midfield, but he has been used as an out-and-out striker by Kevin Keegan without success.
The former Leeds prospect has now gone 29 games without a goal in a black-and-white shirt and has scored just one goal in his last 48 first-team appearances with Newcastle and Manchester United. In 73 appearances since December 2004, Smith has also scored just three times in all competitions.
But it is a barren run Smith refuses to let get him down as he urged his team-mates to prove their spirit as well as their ability in the face of adversity.
The defeat at home by Blackburn Rovers last weekend means the Magpies are just three points off the relegation zone, while only bottom club Derby County have a worse goal difference than them.
Smith said: “It is a time where we have to stand up and be counted, go out in front of 52,000 people and prove our worth. We’ve got to show everyone that we want to fight for the cause. It’s getting tight but you always knew it would. We looked at our home games as ones that were winnable and one was against Blackburn.
“We’ve deserved criticism on occasions this season and we’re all big enough to accept that. It’s up to us as a team, as players and as people, to sort that out.”
Despite the difficult circumstances which have seen the Magpies fail to win in 11 Premier League games, a run which dates back to December 15, Smith is also convinced Keegan will lead the side to safety this season and on to bigger and better things after that. Like every player at the club, Smith has thoroughly enjoyed working with the new manager and he believes that can only bode well for the future.
He explained: “The more and more we work together, the more influence the manager is having. We are getting fitter and there is a camaraderie, and that’s something the gaffer has emphasised since he came in. Everyone is playing for each other and that stands us in good stead.”
Despite the close of the transfer window at the end of January, Keegan could still add a new face to his squad this week when he makes a decision on whether to sign Senegalese defender Lamine Diatta. The 32-year-old has been training with United in the last few days and he will play in a special
practice match this morning before Keegan ponders whether to offer him a contract.
Diatta, who played in the Champions League with Turkish outfit Besiktas this season, is able to move outside of the window because he is a free agent and The Journal understands the experienced right-back, who is an international team-mate of Habib Beye and Abdoulaye Faye, has impressed United’s coaching staff.
Keegan is concerned about his lack of cover in defence, particularly at right-back as Stephen Carr is suffering with a hamstring injury. However, United’s manager will be pleased to see Peter Ramage return to training next week. The 24-year-old has not featured since he suffered a serious knee injury against Middlesbrough in August but could be available for selection by the time Fulham visit St James’s Park on March 22.
The youth team graduate has played in both full-back positions, as well as in his favoured centre-back role, since he made his first-team debut against Olympiakos in the Uefa Cup three years ago.
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