Newcastle United Football Club News

• Nickname:Magpies
• Founded:1881
• Manager:Alan Pardew

• Ground:St James' Park
• Capacity:52,193

N'Zogbia stance angers Joe

30 Jan 2009 - 07:25:05

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Newcastle United boss Joe Kinnear has accused Charles N'Zogbia of attempting to engineer a move away from St James' Park.

Kinnear has hit back at a statement released by the French midfielder in which he claimed he would never play for the manager again after he mis-pronounced his name several times during an interview.

N'Zogbia has openly discussed his desire to leave the Magpies this month and Kinnear claims his latest actions are designed to force through a transfer before the window closes on Monday.

Kinnear had mistakenly called the 22-year-old winger "insomnia" following Wednesday's defeat at Manchester City.

"Sadly, this just smacks of a desperate attempt to engineer a move away from Newcastle United," said Kinnear.

"Okay, I got a little tongue-tied, but if I had a pound for every time I've mis-pronounced a player's name down the years, then I'd be a very wealthy man indeed.

"There have already been plenty of quotes attributed to Charles during January, saying he is interested in leaving for other club, but the truth is we haven't received a formal offer for him."

N'Zogbia, who claimed he was wanted by the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham and Lyon at the beginning of the month, had earlier released a statement claiming he would never play for Kinnear again.

"First of all I wish to apologise to the fans for wanting to leave the club," N'Zogbia's statement read.

"However, having been insulted by Joe Kinnear, I will never play for him again while he remains Newcastle manager.

"The club are aware there are offers on the table and they should accept one of them."