Source: Daily_Mail
Demba Ba: The Newcastle No 9 shirt is just a number
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. Vacant since Andy Carroll left for Newcastle, it was expected to be filled by a big-money transfer window purchase. The signing never arrived, but it hasn't stopped in-form Ba from stepping into the role. Strike one: Ba celebrates the first goal of his hat-trick against Stoke on Monday actionBa 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. 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. '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. Former hero: Andy Carroll before he signed for Liverpool for ?35m '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. 'That is all down to you and your feet. I am quite happy with the number I have got now.' 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. 'I watched them when Shearer was there and Michael Owen, Andy Carroll and Andy Cole, all these strikers could score goals,' Ba added. Star signing: Alan Shearer was the main man for over ten years at St James' Park '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. '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.' Goal king Cole: Andy Cole was Newcastle's star No 9 in the early 1990sAnd 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. As for Everton manager David Moyes, he will be hoping his decision not to sign Ba does not come back to haunt him. 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. '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.' 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