MARTIN DUBRAVKA has paved the way for a permanent £4m move to Newcastle United by admitting he wants to stay beyond this season.

The Magpies have told the player they would like to trigger the clause in his loan deal that would lead to a full-time switch.

But talks will not enter the final stage until Premier League status has been secured.

Newcastle will head into tomorrow's trip to Leicester City looking to build on the seven-point gap they hold over the relegation zone.

With six matches remaining Newcastle’s top-flight status is looking stronger by the week and Rafa Benitez is keen for that to be assured before thrashing out deals for the summer.

Dubravka has made an impressive start to life at St James’ Park and has kept three clean sheets from his five matches since moving on loan from Sparta Prague.

Former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given urged the club this week to tie him down on a permanent basis and staying on is what Dubravka wants after enjoying his time on Tyneside.

He said: "You need to stay focused until the last game. I don't like to say we have one or two more games to stay in the league and be safe.

“Everybody knows that we are not in the best situation and need to fight for it. I want to stay here after the summer, so I need to be focused. I don't think that it's time to speak about it.”

Dubravka had been watched numerous times by Benitez’s scouting team before he was signed in January and there was a confidence he would be able to slot straight in and perform to a high level.

The standard of his displays could not have been much better, after making a sensational debut to help beat Manchester United on February 11.

Supporters have taken to him straight away and are desperate to see him commit to a permanent deal.

Dubravka said: "It's a question of hard work on the training pitch. Since I signed a loan deal here, we've worked hard in training trying to take this attitude on the training ground on to the pitch in games.

"I'm very happy that we could bring this energy, and all these things, from the training ground to the pitch. That's why we were successful (against Huddersfield) last weekend.”

Benitez wants to avoid heading into the final couple of matches looking below at the teams in the relegation zone – and a victory over Leicester this Saturday could even place them tenth.

Dubravka said: "You can't think about staying up with games to spare, just the next game. I came here to help the guys. They are helping me.

“I've enjoyed every game we've played. I knew, when I came here, that we were not in the best situation, but Newcastle's a huge club with a great history, and deserves to stay in the league. Everybody fights for it. It was important that we brought the energy from the training ground in matches and we have."