Newcastle is ideal home for wanderer Routledge

28 August 2010 09:32
IT says much of Wayne Routledge's itinerant existence that, despite only joining Newcastle in January, he has already made twice as many appearances for the Magpies as for the two other Premier League clubs where he spent three-and-a-half years of his career.[LNB] Tottenham, 2005-08 Three top-flight starts sandwiched between loan spells at Portsmouth and Fulham.[LNB] Aston Villa, 2008-09 Two Premier League substitute appearances either side of a twomonth loan to Cardiff City.[LNB] Throw in Championships spells with Crystal Palace and QPR, and it is easy to see why the winger has earned a reputation for switching clubs in the way most players swap shirts.[LNB] When he arrived at St James' Park in January, Routledge freely admitted he was searching for the side that would bring his free-roaming days to an end.[LNB] Seven months into his Newcastle career the 25-year-old might finally have found a club he can call his own.[LNB] I came here looking to put down roots and that is what I've done, said Routledge, who made an instant impression in the second half of last season as the Magpies romped to the Championship title.[LNB] I've never been happier in my career. I've been at a lot of clubs, but I've found something really good here. I'm really enjoying it.[LNB] I get on really well with everyone and I think that shows in my football. I needed that. It's gone really well for me up here. I had to get settled at a club, find a club where I felt a part of it. I feel as though I can express myself here.[LNB] Your team-mates give you the confidence to do that.[LNB] When you're happy and settled, I think that will always be when you play your best football.[LNB] Here, we're all striving for the same thing, which is to keep Newcastle United in the Premier League and hopefully a little bit more than that.[LNB] Unlike the majority of his team-mates, Routledge was not a member of the Magpies side that tumbled out of the top-flight two seasons ago.[LNB] But just as the likes of Kevin Nolan, Alan Smith and Joey Barton are driven by a desire to atone for mistakes that occured in Newcastle's last ill-fated stay in the division, so Routledge is equally desperate to prove himself as a Premier League performer.[LNB] The winger was tipped for the top when he joined Spurs in a £2m transfer from Palace in 2005, and while his career has taken a somewhat circuitous route since, he could yet reach his intended destination if he maintains the form he displayed in last weekend's 6-0 win over Aston Villa.[LNB] I've got a point to prove as a Premier League player now, but I think everyone has here, said Routledge. We've got a point to prove every time we step out on to the pitch.[LNB] At the moment, things are going well, but we have to maintain it. The Premier League is relentless and if we let our standards slip, it could all change very quickly.[LNB] After an opening-weekend defeat at Manchester United, the manner of last Saturday's victory dispelled many of the fears that accompanied Newcastle's elevation to the topflight.[LNB] Chris Hughton's side did not look out of place as they swept aside a Villa team that were expected to push for Europe before Martin O'Neill's surprise departure, but the challenge now is to maintain that standard at Wolves this afternoon.[LNB] Newcastle's strong away form was a key feature of their success last season, and while no one is expecting a repeat of their 12 victories on the road, Routledge is looking for signs to suggest Newcastle are capable of taking points from the backyard of the sides that are likely to be in and around them.[LNB] The result against Aston Villa has given everyone a lot of confidence, he said. It was an unbelievable result and it couldn't have gone any better for us really.[LNB] It's nice to win in that manner no matter which division you're in, but I think it was important for us to get a home win under our belts quickly.[LNB] We feel we belong in the Premier League, but we also have to prove we're good enough. We are here on merit after coming up as champions, but that result has given everyone a lot of self-belief.[LNB] We are back where we belong.[LNB] The trick with a result like that is to follow it up. The aim is to take some points from the Wolves game and build on what we did to Villa.[LNB]

Source: Northern_Echo