GRAEME Souness may be nothing more than a footnote in Newcastle United's history books, but one player will never forget the part he played in his own fledgling career.

Charles N'Zogbia may have been recruited by Sir Bobby Robson, but it was Souness who really gave him his head.

The French midfielder has made 19 Premiership and eight cup appearances this season, including four in Europe.

He has been one of the highlights of an otherwise disappointing season, scoring four goals, including two in his last two matches against Portsmouth and Aston Villa.

Those games have come in the post-Souness era, with Glenn Roeder now holding the reins at St James' Park on a temporary basis following the sacking of the Scot by chairman Freddy Shepherd.

And while N'Zogbia's loyalty now lies with the former Newcastle captain, he retains a fondness for his former boss.

"I am grateful for everything Graeme Souness did for me. He was a good manager and I might not be playing in the first team if it wasn't for him," he said.

"I had no problems with him at all. He was a good person as well as a good manager and all of the players were sorry to see him go.

"He showed a lot of faith in me and I will never forget that. At the start of the season, I hoped I would be able to break into the first team but, if I am honest, I probably didn't think I would get the chance to play in as many games as I have.

"I work hard in training and I try to do my best to stay in the first team. That is certainly what I want do."

N'Zogbia's preferred role is just behind the frontman, but at Newcastle he has been asked to play out wide and it is a role he is happy to carry out.

"The manager has been telling me to play much closer to the touchline and that's what I've been trying to do," he said.

"I feel happy doing that because it's a position I've played throughout my career.

"The manager wants the whole team to play with a bit more width so we can start to get more crosses into the box for the strikers.

"Crossing has always been an important part of my game, but so is scoring goals and that is what has been so pleasing about the last couple of games. I've been trying to get involved in the penalty box more and, thankfully, that has had a result."

Meanwhile, former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri has declared his interest in becoming the next manager at Newcastle, while Ottmar Hitzfeld is 'honoured' to be linked with the club.

Ranieri is currently without a club but has not been contacted by Magpies officials.

He said:''Newcastle are one of the best clubs in England. They are a good, ambitious team and that is very important for me

''I am looking for another good job with a club who has ambition. Newcastle is a good team, an ambitious team. It is one of the best clubs in England.''

Hitzfeld, who will not be available until the summer, said: "The interest and confidence of the club's (Newcastle) supporters is an honour."

* Birmingham co-owner David Sullivan believes Nicky Butt still has an ''important part to play'' in the club's fight against relegation from the Premiership.

Butt has been fined two-weeks wages, around £80,000, for walking out on the team prior to Monday's defeat at West Ham.

The 31-year-old, on a season-long loan from Newcastle, has since apologised for going straight home after learning he had been replaced in the team by Steve Bruce's son, Alex.

* Newcastle United midfielder Daryl Smylie is joining Stockport County on loan until March 18. Earlier this month, Smylie won his first Northern Ireland U21 cap against Israel. Smylie, 20, joined United in July 2002 .

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