PETER Ramage has won plenty of plaudits this season, but fellow full-back Robbie Elliott feels his biggest achievement has been to silence the critics waiting to snipe at Newcastle's defence.

Despite keeping six clean sheets in the space of eight games earlier this season, the Magpies' backline has found itself under fire after a succession of mistakes led to points being squandered against both Chelsea and Aston Villa.

While both Titus Bramble and Jean-Alain Boumsong have come in for sustained criticism, Ramage has emerged with his burgeoning reputation intact.

The 22-year-old has been one of Newcastle's few success stories this season after slotting in at right-back to replace the injured Stephen Carr.

His nine successive appearances have earned increasingly rave reviews, with Elliott praising both his consistency and composure.

"Sometimes you wonder what you have let yourself in for when you become a defender at Newcastle United," said the Gosforth-born defender, who has stood in for the suspended Celestine Babayaro in United's last two league games.

"You find yourself constantly being criticised.

"But it hasn't been like that for Peter Ramage and rightly so. He's had nothing but praise so far and he's deserved it.

"He has been fantastic since he came into the side. He's a great lad to work with and he's always willing to learn. He's put that extra graft in this season and, thankfully, he has got his rewards."

Elliott spent most of last season in Newcastle's reserves and consequently took Ramage under his wing as he pushed for a first-team place.

That came at Old Trafford towards the end of the campaign and, while he was overlooked again at the start of this season, it is difficult to imagine Graeme Souness disposing of the youngster so readily now.

"I've played a bit more reserve-team football with Peter than I would ideally have liked," said Elliott. "He always looked good at that level. I suppose I always had an inkling that he could make it, but you can never know for sure.

"Playing at that level is totally different to playing in the first team in the Premiership. But he got his chance and he has grabbed it with both hands."

In many ways, the start to Ramage's career has mirrored Elliott's rise to the top. The 31-year-old also started as an untried youngster playing for his hometown team and, after returning to Tyneside following a spell at Bolton, he admits that being a Newcastle fan makes playing for the club an even more pressurised task.

"Like me, Peter's a fan as well as a player," said Elliott. "That can make it more difficult sometimes. You tend to take things to heart a lot more because you want to do so well for the club.

"The criticism hurts that little bit more, but he will come to terms with that because he is so level-headed. That's one of the great things about him."

* New Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp will make Newcastle midfielder Amdy Faye his leading target during next month's transfer window.

The pair worked together during Redknapp's first spell at Fratton Park and the Pompey manager has identified the tough-tackling Senegal international as one of the players capable of keeping his side in the Premiership.

"I haven't had that much time to speak to Harry about players," said Portsmouth chairman, Milan Mandaric. "But I know that he likes Amdy Faye. It's Harry's call and I will support him when the time comes."

Faye, who only moved to Newcastle at the start of this year, has failed to sparkle in his 11 months on Tyneside.

He was almost moved on in the summer and, while recent displays against Aston Villa and Arsenal have hinted at an upturn in form, Souness will be tempted to do business if Pompey match the £2m Newcastle paid for the midfielder's services this year.

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