By Matt Jones
December 21 2005

28-year-old midfielder Amady Faye has confirmed that he will retire from international football following the African Nations Cup next month. Having recently found himself back in the Toon squad following injury to Emre, Faye will now miss five games while he heads off to Egypt to play for Senegal. However, speaking to the official Toon website, Faye has revealed that when he returns to Tyneside in February, all of his energy will be on club - and not country.

AMADY FAYE: "The African Nations Cup is really important for me. It is a big competition, and we have a chance of doing well.

"This will be my last tournament for Senegal, because after this there is a long time before the next big tournament.

"We didn't qualify for the World Cup this summer, and obviously it's a long time for the next one.

"The travelling is tough, so I think the time is right to stand aside from international football after the African Nations Cup.

"It would be nice to go out on a high, but it is a tough competition.

"There are some good players going. Nigeria and Zimbabwe are good sides, as are Ghana. It will be tough but it would be great to win it.

"It is hard that the African Nations Cup coming up in January because I have worked hard to get my place back with Newcastle.

"It is important for me to play well for Newcastle, but it is also good for any player to play for his country.

"I've had to wait for my chance this season at Newcastle. In the last two months I had a problem with my ankle, but it is OK now and I have no problems with it.

"I miss five games while I'm away, then when I come back I will have to fight to get back into the side.

"It will be tough for me, but when you have so much quality in the squad like we do this season, every player has a fight to stay in the team."