N'Zogbia rides to toon rescue

Charles N’Zogbia has vowed to save Newcastle boss Graeme Souness from the midfield crisis which threatens to put a further dent in the club’s season.

The 19-year-old Frenchman curled home a stunning free-kick to secure a point in last Saturday’s disappointing 1-1 home draw with Fulham as the euphoria of Michael Owen’s debut evaporated.

N’Zogbia was introduced as a substitute after £9.5m (€14m) signing Albert Luque was stretchered off with a ruptured hamstring.

And with Laurent Robert having left the club and Emre battling against his own injury problems, he represents the only genuine option on the left side of midfield going into tomorrow’s Barclays Premiership trip to Blackburn.

With set-piece specialists in short supply – the returning Nolberto Solano will also miss out at Ewood Park with a thigh strain – the former Le Havre player could have an important role to play.

“Last week, I was very happy to score the equaliser against Fulham,” he said.

“Not only was it my first Premiership goal for the club, it earned us a vital draw.

“Defeat would have been terrible for us. It was only a shame we could not get a second and win the game.

“I have been practising my free-kicks in training just to give the team an extra option on the set-pieces.

“Obviously Laurent Robert took most of them last season, so it’s good that people like Stephen Carr and myself get a chance too.

“It’s important for the midfield to score some goals to help the strikers and of course if I can score, it helps my chances in the team.

“The fact I scored last week gives me more confidence to try for goal should I get another opportunity.”

With Scott Parker suspended and Emre, Luque, Solano and Kieron Dyer all injured, N’Zogbia is one of a small group of midfielders in the 17-man squad for tomorrow’s game, with Lee Bowyer, Lee Clark, Amdy Faye and the inexperienced Martin Brittain also included.

But the misfortune of the missing quartet has at least given N’Zogbia a chance to prove himself, and he is determined to seize it.

“The injuries we have suffered, especially in midfield, have hurt us as we have been short of players in that department,” he said.

“But it has given me the chance to come in and do a job and at the moment, that’s great for me.

“The manager has expressed his faith in me and told me what he expects of me and as I’m playing in the side at the moment, I’m happy.”

Souness admitted last season that in an ideal world, he would not have included the likes of N’Zogbia, James Milner and Steven Taylor, all teenagers, in the same side, but circumstances have forced him to delve deep into the Newcastle squad.

“That’s what I said last season, James Milner and Charles ideally would be squad players for you who could come in when you are going well and you have got a settled side,” said Souness.

“They came in last year and had to be main men for long periods towards the end of the season, and that is not ideal. But we find ourselelvses in that situation now.

“If you had said to me a month ago where do you feel the strongest part of your team is, I would have said in our midfield both in numbers and in quality.

“We were getting criticised for having too many midfielders not so long ago, but now as Lady Luck would have it, we are short there.”

There will, of course, be no Milner tomorrow, after he joined Aston Villa on loan.

N’Zogbia has had to learn quickly about the tempo and burly aspect of the Premiership.

“I have found the Premiership more physical than football in France, but I’m learning and adapting and I’m sure I can handle myself,” he said.

“I know Blackburn will be tough, but no more so than the other teams we have faced. We have to match them and then beat them. That’s our aim.”