Cabaye's frustration at missing month of football (From The Northern Echo)

Cabaye's frustration at missing month of football

10:23am Thursday 23rd February 2012 in Sport By Richard Mason, Sports Writer/Sub-Editor

YOHAN CABAYE has spoken of his frustration at missing a month of football - but has pledged to make up for lost time this weekend.

Newcastle host Wolverhampton Wanderers at St James' Park, with Alan Pardew able to select both Cabaye and Cheik Tiote, who has returned from the African Cup of Nations after losing to Zambia in the final.

While Tiote's absence was unavoidable, there was a sense of genuine hardship on Newcastle's part with regards to Cabaye's suspension, retrospectively served on the Frenchman for a kick on Adam El-Abd during the Magpies' 1-0 defeat in the FA Cup fourth round at Brighton and Hove Albion.

Referee Lee Probert did not see the incident, but TV replays picked up possible contact between the two players, and while Newcastle and Cabaye appealed the ban, the FA upheld the decision.

Cabaye missed the games against Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa and the 5-0 defeat to Spurs last week, while Newcastle's failure to see off the Seagulls at the Amex on January 28 ensured that they had a free weekend last week.

The 26-year-old midfielder insisted that he has learned from the suspension. "Three matches out was so long for me, and then another week without a fixture as well," Cabaye said.

"It was very frustrating how it happened at Brighton but that is football and I have learned from it.

"But I have worked hard to be ready and fit again.

"During my time out I have been training with the team as normal but also training on my own at home.

"I wanted to stay as fit as possible so have been running and using the gym at home. If the manager selects me against Wolves I will be ready."

Without Tiote in the side, Newcastle struggled. And while they were buoyed by victories over Aston Villa and Blackburn, the Ivorian and Cabaye's absence was felt massively as Pardew's men were overran at White Hart Lane last Saturday.

Newcastle's manager said: "Now I have my strongest squad to pick from since (the 3-0 victory over) Man United.

"We have come through the period without our iconic players, with some fantastic results.

"We are hurt but we're still in a great position. We're looking forward.

"With everything said and done, that's got to be the objective on Saturday night - to be fifth in the table with a win. That's what we will work on between now and Saturday.

"We are still disappointed with the Tottenham result and I've seen that on the training ground this week.

"More importantly we have two home games. Our home form is good, we've won our last three and our home form is strong."