TITUS BRAMBLE is determined to win a new contract at Newcastle.
The error-prone defender is expected to be released when his current deal expires at the end of the season. Bramble has endured a turbulent four years on Tyneside and the Geordie supporters have grown tired of his inconsistent displays.
But the 24-year-old ex-Ipswich star is desperate to convince boss Glenn Roeder that his long-term future is at St James' Park. Bramble said: "I want to stay at Newcastle. I love the club and I am settled in the north-east.
"Leaving Newcastle would be a massive wrench. There are not many better clubs to play your football at in Europe than Newcastle. "I've grown up at this club, both as a footballer and a person and I'm not thinking about leaving.
"I've not heard anything about a new contract yet and that isn't up to me. I've spoken to the manager and he's told me to go out there, play my football and prove to everyone that I deserve one.
"That's all I can do. The rest is out of my hands, but I'm determined to show that I should stay a Newcastle player. "Hopefully something will be sorted out soon, but as I've said, all I can do is play well and see what happens."
Bramble's blunders have left him regarded as a joke at Premiership grounds up and down the country. His mistakes in the home defeat to Fulham in September had Toon fans calling for him to be axed.
"I've made mistakes, but I've always put my hand up and accepted the blame. I've always been mentally strong, even when I was a kid. I've got my family to thank for that. "I've been low at times because sometimes the criticism has gone too far in my opinion. But I've got family, friends and team-mates who lift me up again.
I am guessing a lot of toon fans will wish they won't offer him a new contract... but maybe i may be wrong...
