GEREMI has claimed that his "leadership skills" made him a natural choice as Newcastle captain, and the Magpies midfielder has pledged to do all he can to assist the development of the younger players under his control.

Despite only moving to St James' Park in July, the Cameroon international was still awarded the captain's armband ahead of last month's Premier League opener at Bolton.

Sam Allardyce bypassed the likes of Shay Given, Nicky Butt and Joey Barton to appoint Geremi as Scott Parker's successor, citing the 28-year-old's considerable experience as a major factor in his decision.

Geremi is confident he possesses the skills needed to succeed in the post and, with the likes of Charles N'Zogbia and Steven Taylor having established themselves in the first team this season, is determined to act as a 'father figure' to some of his younger team-mates.

"I'm a person who likes to lead on the pitch," said the African, who spent four seasons at Chelsea before moving to Tyneside this summer. "I also like to talk to players off the pitch as well. I think the manager felt I had the qualities to be a captain and a leader.

"I'm proud that he chose me, but I don't look after the young players because I'm captain. I do it because that's the kind of person I am.

"Doing these things is what I like to do. Some of the young guys come to me for advice and I'm happy to give it to them. I'm a caring man."

The two most recent players to come under his care were former Bolton centre-half Abdoulaye Faye and ex-Marseille captain Habib Beye.

The duo signed for the Magpies on transfer deadline day, taking Allardyce's total number of summer signings to nine in the process.

The Newcastle boss had already overseen a significant overhaul of the squad he inherited from his predecessor, Glenn Roeder, and Geremi felt it was important to make further additions before the transfer window closed.

"It was important to make the signings before the deadline because we have had some injuries and we needed to strengthen," he said. "To be a team with big ambition you need to have a good squad.

"We've signed two more great players and we will need them. There are lots of matches in this league and there are the other competitions as well.

"You need a big squad and you need cover in all positions. If you're not playing, you need to be resting and making sure you're ready when you get your chance to play. Now, we have a squad that can compete in all competitions."

Paul Huntington is no longer a part of that squad, though, after he completed a permanent switch to Leeds United on Friday.

The 19-year-old played for Newcastle's reserves last Thursday but, when he arrived at the club's Darsley Park training ground the following morning, he was informed that Leeds boss Dennis Wise had made him an offer he felt unable to reject.

"I played at the Stadium of Light on Thursday night for Newcastle's reserves, and after my warm-down on Friday I found out that there had been a few clubs interested," said Huntington, a former winner of Sport Newcastle's Wor Jackie award for Newcastle's most promising trainee.

"I had to decide in a couple of hours and I had to stay at the training ground in Newcastle until the manager gave it the go-ahead.

"I heard Leeds had put a bid in for me and I drove straight down to talk terms with the club. I had another two years left at Newcastle but I didn't want to sit around and play for the reserves, or the odd first-team game.."

* Newcastle's Carling Cup third-round tie at Arsenal will take place on Tuesday, September 25 (ko 7.45pm).