Alain Goma yesterday hit back at slurs questioning his commitment to Newcastle.

Goma was upset when chairman Freddy Shepherd disclosed in November that the French defender wanted to quit the club.

"We cannot tolerate any players who don't want to play for us," said Shepherd at the time.

Since then the experienced stopper has been seething over accusations that United's foreign players have not been prepared to give 100 per cent to the cause.

Now Goma wants to shut up his critics by helping Newcastle, who face Aston Villa in a third round replay on Wednesday, achieve FA Cup glory.

Goma was tipped to leave Tyneside when the transfer window opened on the continent last month and he has been linked with moves to PSG and Fulham.

But the Frenchman has now made it clear that he intends to stay - at least until the end of the season.

He said: "Things have been said about me which have hurt and upset me - said by people who should know better. A lot of it is not true.

"I am committed to playing for Newcastle and desperate to win something with them. I have never not tried while I have played here and to suggest otherwise is stupid."

Goma, set to face Coventry at St James' Park tomorrow, added: "It would be a dream come true to win the FA Cup at Newcastle.

"People have so much passion for it and it would be great to give the fans something to cheer at the end of the season."

Boss Bobby Robson doesn't want to lose his £4m-rated defender and said recently: "If he wants to stay that would be fine by me."

Full back Wayne Quinn will make his debut for Newcastle tomorrow after signing on loan from Sheffield United. Quinn takes over the vacant No 14 shirt last worn by Temuri Ketsbaia.

Meanwhile two members of Newcastle's football Academy, Michael Chopra and Damon Robson, are curreently training with the England Under-17 team in La Manga, Spain.

Academy director Alan Irvine said: "It gives us a tremendous boost and demonstrates the value of the Academy to the football club."

Academy graduate Shola Ameobi is gunning for his first senior goal against Coventry.

Ameobi, 19, hasn't looked out of place since stepping up into the first team last month. But he confessed: "I'm desperate to score and I was gutted when I hit the post on Sunday against Villa.

"It would be amazing to score in front of my home crowd."

Robson got tough with Shay Given yesterday and slapped a 'no sale' tag on his unsettled keeper.

That's bad news for Arsenal, who see Given as an eventual successor to David Seaman.

It's understood Given has been told he won't be allowed to quit St James' Park after putting in a transfer request earlier in the week.

Instead the Republic of Ireland star will be told to fight Steve Harper for his Premiership place