Dan Gosling willing to force his way into Newcastle United's first team

Newcastle United midfielder Dan Gosling has admitted that he wants to stay at the Sports Direct Arena and battle for a spot in Alan Pardew's regular starting XI.

The 22-year-old has been linked with a switch to newly-demoted Championship side Blackburn Rovers but the playmaker has insisted that he wants to be with the Magpies for the "long haul".

"It will be a tough battle but I'm up for the challenge," Gosling told the Newcastle Journal. "Hopefully I'm here for the long haul. I am aiming for a good year. I want to stay and fight for my place like anybody else."

Gosling moved to Newcastle from Everton in 2010.