JERMAINE JENAS compared life at Newcastle United to living inside a goldfish bowl and has now explained how his summer move to Tottenham was an escape for fresh air.

The England midfielder takes on his former employers for the first time since his wish to leave was granted in August, and manager Graeme Souness has revealed how much he would have liked the £7m man to stay.

Ideally, Souness would have preferred to have paired his own close-season recruit, Scott Parker, alongside Jenas in the centre of Newcastle's midfield, but the latter's insistence on departing for pastures new ended that hope.

But the St James' Park boss is quite frank in his assertion that there was very little he could do to prevent the former Nottingham Forest protg reuniting with his ex-City Ground team-mates Michael Dawson and Andy Reid at White Hart Lane.

"We didn't want to sell him but he was determined to leave," said Souness, who will ask Amdy Faye to again play alongside Parker at Spurs this lunchtime. "Several of his mates were, and still are, at Tottenham, which was always going be attractive for him. We were a reluctant seller.

"He is a young man who will only get better. He is on the fringes of the England team. He has the potential to be an England regular but there is strong competition. It's how much better he gets. There had been murmurs beforehand he wanted to go."

Jenas, who scored the latest of two stunning free-kicks for Spurs in the draw with Tottenham just days before Christmas, feels he was going stale on Tyneside and his career was starting to suffer.

The 23-year-old, who became PFA Young Player of the Year in his first full season at Newcastle after a £5m switch from Forest, had struggled to repeat his first year heroics.

But Jenas claims to have gone about his ambition of moving away correctly and that he has nothing but fond memories of the time he spent in the North-East.

"It was something I thought would be for the best - both for my career and for myself," said Jenas, part of a Tottenham side who have won, lost and drawn one in each of their last three games. "There was nothing more to it other than I thought my career would benefit if I moved on.

"During certain times in a career I think it's best to get a breath of fresh air in a different place. The move has improved my game. I think I am improving as a footballer and that's what it's all about. I'm enjoying my football and have settled in very quickly at Spurs.

"I had amazing times at Newcastle and the fans were fantastic to me at the club. I could not have asked for better supporters and I hope the club enjoys success. I would be first to cheer them if they won anything and that will never change."

Tottenham, rocked by the news skipper Ledley King will be out of action for three weeks with a groin problem, are sitting pretty in the Premiership and serious contenders for a Champions League place this season.

And Newcastle's cause for only a second Premiership win at the Lane has been hampered by the fact the Football Association have thrown out an appeal for Lee Bowyer's red card at Liverpool, for a foul on Xabi Alonso, to be rescinded.

Bowyer misses the first of three games today and, with a personal determination to move to a London club in January, there is every chance he could have played his last game for the club.

But Souness said: "I don't see it that way. He is contracted for another year and a half.

"He has made it known he wants to go back south. Prior to Christmas there were inquiries through agents. There's nothing on the table that we find remotely attractive."

Souness insisted that Real Madrid have made no contact with them with regard to Albert Luque.

But the Scot - still without midfielder Emre today - did hint that he will be looking to strengthen his defence in the new year and raised the possibility of acquiring one or two loan signings - with Real's Jonathan Woodgate a possibility.

Meanwhile, Souness reacted strongly to the remarks made by West Ham boss Alan Pardew yesterday.

Pardew was quoted as telling the Newcastle boss to concentrate on his own team affairs after suggesting the Hammers defence were scared of Alan Shearer and Michael Owen.

But Souness, whose side won 4-2 at Upton Park on December 17, responded by saying: "He shook my hand at the end of the game. If he was upset with me he chose not to say anything.

"When I said scared I said scared of Owen's pace. I'm more than surprised by his comments. But one thing I have learnt in football is that never be surprised with surprises."

Newcastle (probable): Given; Ramage, Boumsong, Bramble, Babyaro; Solano, Faye, Parker, N'Zogbia; Owen, Shearer. Subs (from): Harper (gk), Ameobi, Carr, Clark, Elliott, Luque.

Read more about Newcastle United FC here.