Andy O'Brien wants to stay Tyneside

Newcastle defender Andy O'Brien has increased his efforts to impress manager Graeme Souness - despite talk of a move to Aston Villa.

The Midlands club expressed an interest in the Republic of Ireland international after Jean-Alain Boumsong and Celestine Babayaro signed at St James' Park.

Both were drafted into the starting line-up for Sunday's 2-0 FA Cup third-round victory over non-league Yeading - but uncertainty surrounds the future of other defenders at the club.

Reports suggest Titus Bramble, Olivier Bernard and Aaron Hughes could be offered as possible make-weights for new signings, but O'Brien is only concentrating on turning the Magpies' season around.

"I'm paid by Newcastle United to give my best for the club and as long as I'm contracted to them I will always give 100%," said the 25-year-old, a £1million signing from Bradford.

"Of course some of the stories are worrying and, yes, it has been an unsettling time. But nobody at the club has said anything to me about my future and I intend to sit tight until I hear something concrete."

"Players are linked with other clubs right, left and centre at this time of the year and I suppose it's just my turn. I'm aware of what the manager is trying to do and it is well known he has wanted to bring in defenders for some time now."

"As far as my own future is concerned, I take the stories with a pinch of salt."

O'Brien returned to action as a half-time replacement for Bramble at Loftus Road on Sunday, but has also played at right-back this season in the absence of the injured Stephen Carr.

With Boumsong ineligible in Europe after already playing for Rangers in the UEFA Cup, his future on Tyneside could yet depend on attempts to recruit either Manchester City's Sylvain Distin or Bayern Munich's Sammy Kuffour.

But the centre-back has FA Cup glory is his sights after favourable home draw against Coventry in the fourth round.
"I'm looking forward to a cup run," O'Brien told the Newcastle Journal. "Our league position could be better at the moment and the FA Cup is an avenue towards getting into Europe. That's where we want to be. Short-term, we want to be involved in as many competitions as possible."