YOHAN Cabaye today sounded a rally call ahead of Newcastle United’s visit to Norwich on Saturday.
The midfielder is a candidate to captain Alan Pardew’s side at Carrow Road in the absence of the injury Fabricio Coloccini.
However, whether he leads the team or not, Cabaye’s determined to be a leader on and off the pitch as Newcastle look to put their costly defeat to Chelsea behind them and consolidate their position in the Premier League.
Steven Taylor also suffered a serious injury in the game, and the loss of him for the season – and Coloccini in the short term – was a far greater concern to Pardew than the points dropped as he reflected on the 3-0 loss.
The result saw the Tynesiders drop two places to sixth, but they remain three points ahead of Liverpool, with winnable home games against Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion following the Norwich fixture.
Cabaye, a revelation in the heart of midfield since his summer move from Lille, remains upbeat going forward despite the club’s growing injury list.
“It’s important that we stay near the top of the Premier League,” said Cabaye.
“There are a lot of games coming up now that we can win. The team spirit’s still good here, and by staying near the top five or six means it stays good.
“Every game we go into, we go for the win and to help the team climb the league.”
Cabaye is part of a large French contingent at St James’s Park, with Demba Ba, Gabriel Obertan, Sylvain Marveaux and Mehdi Abeid having joined Hatem Ben Arfa on Tyneside.
“The team here has integrated very quickly,” said the 25-year-old.
“That was good for myself, Demba, Gabby, Hatem and Mehdi, not forgetting Slyvain Marveaux.
“It has been good for us. We came here because we wanted to do well for Newcastle and help the club move forwards.”