SHOLA Ameobi believes today’s opponents Tottenham Hotspur are an ideal model for Newcastle United.

Like Spurs, the Magpies are a club whose support and history overshadows their present.

They do, however, appear ready to redress the balance, having qualified for last season’s Champions League and established themselves as title contenders this term.

It is an impressive turnaround for a club threatened with relegation when Harry Redknapp took over in 2008, making him the overwhelming favourite to succeed Fabio Capello as England manager.

Newcastle, who did drop out of the Premier League at the end of Redknapp’s first season, are also clawing their way back, two places behind Spurs in the table.

“You want to keep on improving,” said striker Ameobi. “We have done that since we came up from the Championship (in 2010). It is a natural progression, you want to challenge the teams at the top.

“Tottenham are a great side, Harry has done a great job since he has been there and that is the sort of team we want to emulate from the depths to the top.

“However, it has to be a gradual process and we know that.

“You do not do what Manchester United have done overnight, there are a lot of top teams in this league so we understand we have to keep working hard and keep improving.” Meanwhile, Celtic manager Neil Lennon is hoping to make Fraser Forster’s loan permanent, having tipped the Hexham-born 23-year-old for England.

He said: “We have had communication with his agent, I have had a chat with Fraser and we hope we can get something sorted out in the near future.”

England caretaker manager Stuart Pearce watched Forster immediately after news of Capello’s resignation broke.

“Well, why not?” said Lennon when asked about a possible call-up. “I look at some of the other goalkeepers who have been involved in the England squad and the way Fraser is progressing . . . I would not want to throw him in too early, but the way he is playing, why not?”