DEMBA Ba has warned Newcastle United officials they will be wasting their time if they attempt to dissuade him from representing his country at next year's African Cup of Nations tournament.

Both Ba, who plays for Senegal, and Cheik Tiote, who represents Ivory Coast, are set to miss up to a month of Premier League action in order to take part in the tournament, which will take place in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon between January 21 and February 12.

The competition is a major headache for Newcastle boss Alan Pardew, with Arsenal and Chelsea the only Premier League clubs likely to lose more players than the Magpies.

There is no suggestion Newcastle officials will attempt to prevent their players from playing in Africa's premier competition, indeed FIFA rules clearly state that club sides must release their players for the Cup of Nations.

However, to avoid confusion, Ba has moved to pacify both his employers and the club's supporters by underlining just how important the tournament is to him.

"I understand why Newcastle supporters are disappointed that I will be away for a few weeks at the African Cup of Nations, but I hope they also understand why it is so important to me to play in it," said Ba, who was born in Paris to Senegalese parents. "Senegal is my nation and back home in Senegal, it would mean so much to the people if we were to do well in the competition.

"Playing for your country is still one of the biggest honours in the game, and when it is in a major tournament, it is even more special. I want to go there and try to help my team-mates and my country win the competition.

"Next summer, everyone over here will be getting excited about England playing in the European Championships. Well this is the same for us. It is exactly the same importance, it is just unfortunate that it happens during the Premier League season. It is a shame I will have to miss some Newcastle games."

If they were to progress from the third round of the FA Cup, Newcastle would be due to play five matches during the Cup of Nations - four league matches and a cup game - but the need to attend pre-tournament training camps could see Ba and Tiote ruled out of six crucial fixtures.

Tiote's combative midfield qualities make him difficult to replace, although Pardew could turn to Danny Guthrie or Dan Gosling in an attempt to cover for the Ivorian.

Ba's goalscoring record arguably makes him even more important to the Newcastle cause, and his absence will surely only hasten the Magpies manager's determination to sign another striker during the January transfer window.

However, the situation is hardly simple, as Pardew's leading attacking target, Sochaux striker Modibo Maiga, is also due to be in Africa for the Cup of Nations at the turn of the year.

Having failed to land Maiga in the summer, Newcastle officials have maintained a line of dialogue with their counterparts at Sochaux, and it is understood the Ligue One club have become increasingly receptive to the idea of striking a deal in January.

By that stage though, Maiga will be turning his attentions towards representing Mali in the Cup of Nations, where the west African nation will play in the same group as Ba's Senegal.

The circumstances are far from ideal, but senior St James' Park sources insist Maiga's potential involvement in the Cup of Nations will not scupper Newcastle's interest in securing his services once the transfer window reopens.