Toon Player Blames Club For Wasting His International Career

Last updated : 12 September 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor

N'Zogbia is expected to win his second Under-21 cap in tonight's European Championship qualifier in Valletta having impressed during a belated debut against Wales last week.

Having represented France at Under-16s level prior to his controversial transfer to St James's Park in 2004, N'Zogbia was overlooked for Les Bleus selection for three years that he has described as 'upsetting'.

His old French club insisted the player had broken a contract in order to move to Tyneside and pursued a protracted legal case that ended this summer when the Court of Arbitration for Sport ordered Newcastle and N'Zogbia to make a £600,000 compensation payment.

N'Zogbia: "Le Havre wasted two or three years for me, preventing me from playing with the national teams. But it just made me stronger.

"I had no contact from France and I was upset about it. But the people at Newcastle reassured me and told me the call would come. I was so pleased when that proved to be the case."

"I just want to forget about it all. Wearing the French shirt made me so proud. It was good that I was able to have a chance to show what I can do to people in my own country. I'm just pleased that the controversy that surrounded my move to Newcastle has died down and that the situation has been settled.

"We've made a good start to the season. I'm proud to be at such a club and I believe the club is proud of me. They must be as I've just signed a five-year contract. I believe that we can do something good in the Premier League this season. We are aiming for the top five positions. Why not?"