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Gosling gunning for Toffees

Image: Dan Gosling: Has endured an injury nightmare but has no regrets about joining Newcastle

Dan Gosling is hoping to face former friends on Saturday, allowing him to prove to Newcastle that he is deserving of a more regular role.

Magpies midfielder hoping to face former employers

Dan Gosling is hoping to face former friends on Saturday, allowing him to prove to Newcastle that he is deserving of a more regular role. It is fair to say that the 21-year-old has had a bit of a rough time in the last couple of years. Having made the breakthrough at Everton, he was tipped for the top and was quickly snapped up by Newcastle when it became apparent that he would not be penning a new deal on Merseyside. Gosling arrived at St James' Park part way through a lengthy rehabilitation programme following knee ligament surgery. He was able to regain full fitness, but suffered a serious setback in his recovery after making just one substitute appearance. The England U21 international has refused to let his head drop, though, and has battled his way back to become part of Alan Pardew's plans this term.

Memories

Starting berths are difficult to come by at the moment, with the Magpies having made an unbeaten start to the season, but Gosling is hoping his ties to Everton will see him thrust into the fold when the Toffees head to the North East on Saturday. "I had a good time there, and I have great memories of the place," Gosling told the Shields Gazette. "I still have a lot of friends down there as well who I'm still in contact with. It was a sad way to part, but maybe we have to save that for another day. "I still have friends there, and respect the club, the manager and everybody down there." While Gosling will always appreciate what Everton have done for his career, having made a cameo appearance in Newcastle's 3-1 victory over Stoke on Monday, he is looking to kick on with his career on Tyneside.
Significance
"It's another game, but there's a bit more significance in the fixture for me," he said. "I hope that we can get three points. "I had a few minutes at the end (against Stoke), but I want to be starting games. I just have to keep working hard, then when a chance finally comes I have to be ready." It has taken Gosling a long time to be in a position to cross paths with his former employers, but he insists he has no regrets about taking the decision to leave Goodison Park in 2010. He said: "The circumstances swayed it - I'm still really proud to be here. "The history of the club, the fan base, size of the stadium and everything about Newcastle United makes it a great club to be at."

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