Yohan Cabaye apologises to Newcastle fans following interest from Arsenal during the summer

The Gunners made a £10m bid which unsettled the Frenchman

Yohan Cabaye will make his first start of the season today (AFP)

Yohan Cabaye has issued an apology to Newcastle fans after his transfer to Arsenal did not materialise.

A bid of £10m from the Gunners had been rejected last month, and the France midfielder has allayed fears that his head has been turned by Arsene Wenger’s interest – despite missing two matches in an effort to reportedly force Newcastle to sell him – insisting he is happy and committed for this season at St James’ Park.

The 27-year-old was loudly applauded by Magpies’ supporters when he was substituted during Saturday’s 2-1 defeat of Aston Villa, and Cabaye was delighted with the reaction.

"(The fans' response) was very nice to hear. If the fans were - or still are - mad at me for what happened then I understand and I apologise to them," he told www.nufc.co.uk.

"I want to come back from what has happened. I was happy and I am still happy.

"I just want to try and score goals and play well.

"It was very, very good to be back in the team; a really nice feeling."

Worryingly for Newcastle fans, however, Cabaye is not looking past this season with his new-found commitment at the club, adding:

"For Newcastle fans, football is their life and I want to say that I am going to give everything - as I have from my first day here - from today until the end of the season.

"It is important I do that because Newcastle is my club and there is a World Cup at the end of the season, which I want to play in.

"It is very important to be right in my head and I am."