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Gosling ready for battle

Image: Dan Gosling: Aiming for a good year at Newcastle

Dan Gosling has dismissed interest from Blackburn by insisting he intends to fight for first-team football at Newcastle.

Midfielder prepared to stay at Newcastle and wait for opportunity

Dan Gosling has dismissed interest from Blackburn by insisting he intends to fight for first-team football at Newcastle. Rovers signed Leon Best from the Magpies for £3million earlier this month and were also reportedly keen to take Gosling to Ewood Park as well. With Cheick Tiote and Yohan Cabaye established as Newcastle's first-choice midfield pairing, opportunities could be limited for the former England Under 21 international. But Gosling is determined to rise to the challenge and told the Newcastle Journal: "It will be a tough battle but I'm up for the challenge. Hopefully I'm here for the long haul. "I am aiming for a good year. I want to stay and fight for my place like anybody else." The former Everton man will hope that Europa League football and the possible absence of Tiote during the African Cup of Nations could present more chances this season.

Work-out

And Gosling has been involved in Newcastle's pre-season tour of Germany in which Alan Pardew's men have lost to third division Chemnitzer but beaten French second-tier side Monaco. Gosling added: "They have been work-outs. You want to give as many of the lads a run out as we can. "We lost to Chemnitzer and it's not nice to lose. But that's just the way pre-season goes. "Fitness is the key at the moment now though. They (Chemnitzer) start their season next week. "We won't underestimate any team. The teams we have played have been tough so far. "There's been plenty of chances. There was another one when Haris Vuckic took the ball from my feet against Chemnitzer too. "But as I say it's about fitness at this stage. "Last season we lost pre-season games but we can turn it around. There are tough games coming up."

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