DEMBA BA is determined to get his Newcastle United career off to a flier in order to prove critics wrong about his troublesome knee.

Ba signed for the Magpies from West Ham United last month after the Hammers were relegated from the Premier League. The Senegal international was one of the brighter players for West Ham, and was courted by a number of clubs before deciding to join Newcastle.

Ba has only been playing Premier League football since arriving from Hoffenheim in January, but seven goals in ten games alerted the attention of a handful of clubs in the wake of the Hammers’ relegation.

He said: “There was interest towards the end of last season, but I didn’t pay attention because I was in trouble with West Ham. After that I went on holiday and didn’t think about it.

“When I came back I asked my brother what is the best offer. He said, Newcastle United. And that was it, I had made up my mind. I don’t know who else was in for me. I left it to my brother.”

Ba could have been looking forward to a UEFA Cup campaign, but a move to Stoke City while at Hoffenheim fell through as he failed a medical.

A chronic knee muscle injury incurred while on the operating table has caused the 26-year-old his fair share of trouble.

But the striker, who will wear the number 19 shirt this season, is confident that his knee will not be any trouble on Tyneside.

He said: “People will talk about that all my life. I will prove there is no problem by playing well and scoring goals. You can’t stop people talking, let them talk. I am fit and healthy.

“With Stoke, these things happen for a reason. A week later I had signed for West Ham. Stoke was not a good club for me. I do not have any regrets about that.

“They will only stop asking about it if they see me playing and scoring goals. Look at the stats from West Ham last season and I did that. I will let my football do the talking.”

Ba spent a year in England in 2004-05 when on the books at Watford, but returned to his native France when he signed for Rouen where he scored 22 goals in 26 games.

He then moved on to Mouscron where, despite spending most of the season out with a broken leg, he scored eight in 12 games before moving to Hoffenheim, where he gained the attention of a number of English clubs with 40 goals in four seasons at the Bundesliga outfit.

Ba is confident that his prolific record can continue at St James’ Park.

He said: “Mentally I am very strong. Every time I step on the pitch it is to win, no matter Swansea of Man United, I want to win. You have to be mentally strong to play at a club like this.

“It is a good thing that there is pressure here and that the crowd are demanding and need entertaining. If you are a good strong player you can thrive on that and rise to the challenge.

“Even when there is pressure and expectation football is all about having fun. I will always be happy on a football pitch. As soon as I am not happy I will quit.”

Ba joins a growing number of French-speaking players on Tyneside, with Yohan Cabaye, Hatem Ben Arfa, Sylvain Marveaux, Cheik Tiote, and Mehdi Abeid.

Despite being fluent in English after his first spell in England, Ba is keen for the new players to pick up the lingo themselves.

He said: “I will help the French speaking players but I will not be a translator for them. They have to learn English for themselves. They already speak basic English. They will learn fast.”