Ba not setting goals target

The 26-year-old Senegal international, who scored seven goals in 12 Premier League appearances for West Ham last season, may not have been the marquee signing the fans hoped clamoured for, ultimately in vain, during the summer transfer window. However, after a slow start by the standards he had set himself at Upton Park, Ba belatedly announced his arrival with a treble in Saturday's 3-1 home victory over Blackburn which extended the Magpies' unbeaten start to the campaign to eight games in all competitions. That took him level with leading scorer Leon Best, but the former Hoffenheim frontman insisted he has not set himself a mark to reach before the end of the campaign. Ba said: "I just want to have good performances and score goals. That's what makes me happy. I have a competition against myself. "It's been a good day after a lot of work and a lot of bad performances and now today, the work just paid off for me. "I was not fit at the beginning of the season and now after six games, I am starting to get my sharpness back, and I am just going to keep on working to have it 100 per cent for the next weeks. "You feel happy. I have scored my first goal here this season and I just hope it is going to keep on going." Manager Alan Pardew never doubted Ba's ability in front of goal, but was convinced that the effects of the player's fasting during Ramadan had left him fighting for full fitness. However, Ba revealed Pardew had repeatedly assured him that he would get his opportunity when he was ready. He said: "He always told me that when I was fit, I would get my chance and it was up to me to take it or leave it." Ba had already drilled a long-range shot over Paul Robinson's crossbar when he fired Newcastle ahead with 27 minutes gone. In perhaps the best of his three finishes, he controlled Best's driven cross before turning defender Scott Dann and thumping a right-footed shot into the back of the net. Ba said: "To tell you the truth, the ball was for Leon. I just wanted to give it back to Leon because he was in a good position as well. "I haven't seen the pictures yet, but I don't think anybody touched it and the ball went into the goal, so I am very happy with that."