CELESTINE BABAYARO is trying to blot out the departure talk surrounding Olivier Bernard in a bid to enjoy a successful start to life at Newcastle United.

Bernard continues to be linked with a move away from Tyneside after failing to agree a new deal at the club where his existing contract runs out at the end of the season.

Fulham remain the most interested in the player and a possible exchange deal, with Luis Boa Morte heading in the opposite direction, has been discussed between the two clubs.

But Bernard has already warned Newcastle that he would rather see out his contract than complete a switch to a club he would prefer not to join.

Speculation surrounding the full-back has allowed Babayaro to come in and it seems almost certain that manager Graeme Souness will stick with the Nigerian at left-back for Saturday's visit of Southampton.

The African, with Bernard ruled out through suspension, made his debut in Newcastle's 2-0 win over non-league Yeading on Sunday and looks set to start his first Premiership game in a black and white shirt against the Saints.

And Babayaro, a £1m signing from Chelsea at the start of the month, is firmly focused on fighting to retain his place despite the suggestion that his biggest competitor could be moving on sooner rather than later.

"Olivier is a great left-back and the manager is the one left to make decisions over who plays or who is going to move on," said Babayaro, who only made four league starts for Chelsea this season after falling behind William Gallas and Wayne Bridge in the pecking order.

"I know all about fighting and trying to keep a place in the team and as long as Olivier is here we will both be fighting hard to play in the team.

"It's all about hard work and keeping faith in your ability. If you do that then it's in the manager's hands who he is going to pick.

"I was unfortunate not to play as many games as I would have liked at Chelsea under Jose Mourinho but it taught me to keep training hard and keeping fighting for a place. That's what I have to do here at Newcastle and I'm sure Olivier will be doing the same."

Newcastle are struggling at the wrong end of the Premiership table after winning just twice in 12 league matches - a far cry from the club Babayaro left behind who are seven points clear at the top.

Striker Craig Bellamy was honest in his declaration this week that the Magpies have no chance of climbing into a Champions League position come the end of the season and there are serious doubts over qualifying for the UEFA Cup again.

But Babayaro does not concur and he remains confident of a massive turnaround on Tyneside, where Newcastle won for the first time in seven league games on home soil against Birmingham on New Year's Day.

"I have come to Newcastle and we are 14th in the league, which is not the best position to be in," said Babayaro. "But life goes on and all we have to do is win a couple of games and with those points who knows what can happen in football. Winning games can certainly push us back up the table and European football is not impossible.

"When the season started it was Arsenal who were in first position and now it's Chelsea, so anything can happen and that proves it. What we have to do is concentrate and make sure we win every game that we play. We will see where we go from there."

Babayaro's debut on Sunday may not have been against Premiership quality but he claims it was the perfect way to start a new era at a new club.

"It's always good when you come out of a debut with a win. We did that and hopefully we will come through the next game in the same way," said Babayaro.

"We now play against Southampton and they are a better side with better players so we know it will be harder for us. No disrespect to Yeading but Southampton are going to be a much tougher team to face.

"We went to Yeading and we knew it was going to be hard but it was nice to play my first game for a new club."

Souness is likely to be able to call upon captain Alan Shearer this weekend after the striker recovered from a calf problem, but winger Laurent Robert is a major doubt after suffering a hamstring injury last at Loftus Road.

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