Source: SKY_Sports
Bassong 'sad' at debut season
Newcastle defender Sebastian Bassong is desperate not to be relegated in his debut Premier League season.
The French defender joined from Metz in the summer and is one of the only members of the squad to come away from this season with an enhanced reputation.
Bassong, 22, has admitted his disappointment at the club's position but will do everything he can to help them sustain their top-flight status.
"Honestly, I have enjoyed the season because it is my first in England and the Premier League is the best championship," said Bassong.
"But the situation of Newcastle makes me a little sad because I don't want to help them go down in my first season, so I will try to help my team stay up."
The performances of Bassong this season mean that should the Magpies be relegated, there will be no shortage of offers for the central defender. But the Frenchman insists he is not thinking about his future at the present moment.
"I am not thinking about my future. The most important thing is staying up.
"We will think about my future at the end of the season - hopefully after we have stayed up."
He has also spoken of the belief that the squad possess of getting out of the predicament they find themselves in and has taken time to praise boss Alan Shearer.
"Everyone believes in it, if we didn't we might as well stop straight away.
"There are four games left and we have to take the most points we can and then see what happens at the end of the season.
"Alan Shearer has brought magnificent spirit and has given a new lease of life to the players.
"Some of them had lost confidence and he has brought that back.
"He is a good manager and he has got good experience in football, so he knows what he is doing."
Bassong faces arguably his toughest challenge of the season this weekend as he is pitted against Fernando Torres at Anfield.
Despite the Spaniard's great performances this season, the young defender is optimistic towards his chances of shackling the most-feared striker on the planet.
"Fernando Torres is a great player, everyone knows that, but I will be pleased to play against him.
"It will be a good experience. If you want to improve, you have to play against the best strikers."
