Ameobi confident Newcastle will avoid drop

Former Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi is confident the Magpies will avoid relegation from the Premier League.

The 34-year-old, who joined League One side Fleetwood Town last week, left St James' Park in 2014 but remains a loyal supporter of his boyhood club.

Despite seeing Newcastle drop to 18th in the table after Saturday's 5-1 defeat at Chelsea, Ameobi expects the club to be clear of the relegation zone by the end of the season. He said:

The Nigeria international spent five years in the Newcastle youth academy before making his first-team debut in September 2000. He then went onto make 397 appearances for the club over a 14-year stint, scoring 79 goals.

After being released by Newcastle, Ameobi had brief spells with Turkish side Gaziantep BB, Crystal Palace and Bolton Wanderers.

It was announced last week that he had signed for Fleetwood until the end of the season.

Ameobi's younger brother, Sammy, also plays for Newcastle but is currently on loan at Championship side Cardiff City.