Best intent on getting better

Feb 3 2010 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

“I hugely admire players like Alan Shearer, Tino Asprilla and Les Ferdinand. Then you have other people who have played for the club like Patrick Kluivert and David Ginola and these players are huge names.”

Having swapped one Championship club for the other, Best – who has scored ten goals for Coventry so far this season – is determined to prove he is good enough to play at the highest level and firmly believes he will be doing that with his new club next season. He said: “It is a great move, but the work starts now. This is a great chance for me to show what I can do in a top team.

“This club needs to get back where it was – and that is at the top end of the Premier League and in Europe.

“However, we have to finish off the job – and I want to play my part in that.”

Best may have been Chris Hughton’s third choice signing as he looked to add some pace and power to his front line, but the Republic of Ireland international has no problem with that.

United missed out on Jermaine Beckford, Marlon Harewood and Victor Moses before making a late bid for Best, although he is just thrilled to have got a move having first heard about Newcastle’s interest right at the start of the window.

He said: “I think this is the best thing that could have happened to me. I heard little bits and bobs at the start of the transfer window that Newcastle were interested.

“When I heard it then I knew if there was anywhere I wanted to go it was there, they were my top choice. I had a lot of interest from others, but my heart was set on Tyneside.

“I got the phone call on Sunday night telling me it could happen and I wanted it to happen straight away.

“After that I came straight up here and signed.”