Yoan Gouffran has vowed not to let Newcastle manager Alan Pardew forget about him after serving him with a reminder of his potency.
The 27-year-old Frenchman blasted home a superb 67th-minute strike to seal a 2-0 Capital One Cup third round victory over Leeds at St James' Park on Wednesday night as the Magpies booked themselves a last-16 clash with Manchester City.
Gouffran has had to take something of a back seat in recent weeks with loan signing Loic Remy having taking his place in Pardew's starting line-up.
But the former Bordeaux frontman's winner from the bench at Aston Villa on September 14 and his League Cup contribution have come at the right time for him.
Gouffran said: "That's why I'm here - I came to play.
"Last season I started every match. This season, it's been a bit more difficult, but I'm not giving up. I will go out and give 100 per cent so I can play the next game."
However, the January arrival is not the only man trying to catch Pardew's eye, and Wednesday evening's events further promoted the cause of midfielder Sammy Ameobi. He and fellow academy graduate Paul Dummett formed a promising partnership down the left.
It was they who combined with 31 minutes gone to set up striker Papiss Cisse for his first goal in 11 games, a powerful header which gave goalkeeper Paddy Kenny no chance.
Ameobi's cross was tailor-made for the Senegal international, and he later revealed he had been putting in extra work on the training ground with coach Steve Stone to hone his art.
The 21-year-old said: "After training every day, Steve Stone has been keeping me back and making me do extra work, and I think it has paid off.
Source: PA
