Demba Ba: The Newcastle No 9 shirt is just a number

05 November 2011 00:37
He is scoring goals and has propelled Newcastle into third place, but Demba Ba doesn't need to wear the iconic black and white No 9 shirt to feel at home.[LNB] Vacant since Andy Carroll left for Newcastle, it was expected to be filled by a big-money transfer window purchase. [LNB]The signing never arrived, but it hasn't stopped in-form Ba from stepping into the role. [LNB] Strike one: Ba celebrates the first goal of his hat-trick against Stoke on Monday action[LNB]Ba says it is 'just a number', although it means more to the Newcastle fans, who have seen Alan Shearer, Jackie Milburn and Malcolm Macdonald become prolific goalscorers wearing the shirt. [LNB]Ba has talked down its significance. 'Just because you have the No 9 shirt doesn't mean you will score goals. I had No 29 and then nine at Hoffenheim, at West Ham 21. The number does not score goals. [LNB]'Maybe it would mean something to the supporters, but you can have the No 9 shirt and never score a goal. I am not going to take it off someone else.[LNB] Former hero: Andy Carroll before he signed for Liverpool for ?35m[LNB] 'When you look at the No 9 it is the striker and No 1 is the keeper, No 5 is the central defender, but it is not because you wear No 9 or 19 that you can score some goals. [LNB]'That is all down to you and your feet. I am quite happy with the number I have got now.' [LNB]The Senegal striker has scored eight goals in nine league games this season, including two hat-tricks that have spearheaded Newcastle's surge and endeared him to the fans. [LNB]'I watched them when Shearer was there and Michael Owen, Andy Carroll and Andy Cole, all these strikers could score goals,' Ba added.[LNB] Star signing: Alan Shearer was the main man for over ten years at St James' Park[LNB] 'They always hit the net and every team in the league wants strikers like that who can score goals. I have had some periods when I scored six or seven goals in five games and I have had other periods when I have done no goals in seven games. [LNB]'It doesn't matter at all. I just have to keep concentrating. 'We are playing great. I think my goals are the finish of everything else that is working very well.' [LNB] Goal king Cole: Andy Cole was Newcastle's star No 9 in the early 1990s[LNB]And despite all the attention, Ba is happy to stay out of the limelight. 'I don't play football to be recognised by people. I do it because I love it,' he said. [LNB]As for Everton manager David Moyes, he will be hoping his decision not to sign Ba does not come back to haunt him. [LNB]Moyes looked at signing the 26-year-old when he was at Hoffenheim but decided against it, one of the reasons being the player's history of knee injuries.[LNB] 'I took the decision in the end because I just wasn't sure about one or two things,' said Moyes. 'Do I regret it? I've not really thought about it too much.' [LNB] It's Tyne for a party... Newcastle's bandwagon gathers paceNEWCASTLE v Everton: Marveaux could make first league start in place of ObertanNewcastle keeper Soderberg joins Chesterfield on emergency loanAll the latest Newcastle news, features and opinion[LNB][LNB]

Source: Daily_Mail