Nolan doesn't fear drop

Nolan: Happy to be at Newcastle

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Kevin Nolan is confident his new club Newcastle United have what it takes to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

The midfielder made a £4million switch to the Magpies after nine seasons at Bolton. He is expected to make his debut against arch rivals Sunderland on Sunday.

Nolan claimed that he has not even considered the prospect of Championship football next year, but is concentrating on holding down a first team place instead.

"That's (relegation) something I haven't even thought about, really," he said.

Character

"I know there is that old saying: 'We are too good to go down', but we have got the strength of character in the dressing room, from what I have seen so far.

"We have got a few lads injured at the moment. But they will be back come the crunch at the end of the season, so it is about us now trying to cement places in the team so we don't get pushed out by those lads when they come back."

Headlines in Newcastle have recently been dominated by Shay Given's possible transfer to Manchester City, as well as Charles N'Zogbia's spectacular falling out with manager Joe Kinnear.

Delighted

But Nolan has dismissed suggestions that dressing room disharmony, along with a long injury list, should have deterred him from signing for the club.

"I don't think many people would turn Newcastle down once they come up and once they see what the supporters are about and what everyone's about," he added.

"I am just delighted to be here now. It just seems weird seeing 'Nolan' on the back of a Newcastle shirt.

"But it's something I will get used to and, I hope, I will be successful with."