Fabricio Coloccini hints at extending Newcastle stay

Newcastle skipper Fabricio Coloccini has hinted that he is ready to follow compatriot Jonas Gutierrez in extending his stay on Tyneside.

Argentina winger Gutierrez put pen to paper on a new four-year deal last month, and now manager Alan Pardew is hoping to tie up Coloccini on a similar agreement.

Asked about his future, the in-form central defender, who has a little less than two years of his existing contract still to run, told the Journal: "I'm very happy here, so we will see what happens.

"It was important for Jonas to get his new deal too. Then he scored against Wolves, so it was a good week for him."

Coloccini has recovered from a tough start at St James' Park to establish himself as something of a cult hero, and his appointment as captain following Kevin Nolan's summer departure for West Ham appears to have brought even more out of him.

The Magpies headed into the break for international matches sitting proudly in fourth place in the Barclays Premier League table.

However, Coloccini knows there could be bigger tests ahead.

He said: "We are happy because we are working well and things are coming right for us.

"The team spirit is different to last season. When you start well, everything is good, everyone is happy. It's different.

"We will find out more when we have some bad times. But now the spirit is fantastic.

"We have some good people in the changing room and I think that's the key for us to keep winning and playing well."

PA