Newcastle United defender Davide Santon has apologised for his defensive mistake in the midweek 3-1 Europa League quarter-final loss to Benfica.

The Italian defender was at fault as he played a sloppy back-pass to goalkeeper Tim Krul that was intercepted, resulting in Benfica’s Lima scoring to put the Portuguese side ahead.

The Magpies now need to score at least two goals in the return fixture when Benfica travel to St James’ Park if they are to have any chance of progression.

“I am feeling angry with myself,” Santon, the left-back, told The Telegraph.

“I think I had a good game against Benfica, but that pass was a disaster. As a defender, you have to make sure your pass is right, but I had Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa near me, so I couldn’t see the striker. I am really angry with myself and when I got in the dressing room, I said sorry to everybody, to all the players, because it was my fault.

“Now we have to forget about it. I have to forget my mistake and think about Sunday and then, next week, we have to score two against Benfica.”

Newcastle have league matches against Fulham and local rivals Sunderland before the return fixture, but Santon knows that focus is required.

“The Europa League is important, but the Premier League is even more important,” he said.

“We need to make sure we save our season and stay in the division.”

Davide Santon looks set to remain at Newcastle United for at least another season, according to the player’s agent.

The versatile Italian full-back arrived at the Magpies in August 2011 for a reported fee of €6 million from Inter and after an injury-ravaged start he has since gone on to make the left-back position his own.

In January the defender was linked with a return to Italy with AC Milan, but nothing materialised and his agent Renzo Contratto does not believe that a move will materialise in the summer.

Contratto told Radio Crc: “I believe that Davide will remain in England because Newcastle want to count on him next season too.

“The club believe that he still has great room for improvement.”

Santon has made 36 appearances for Alan Pardew’s side in 2012-13 and scored his only goal of the season in last weekend’s 2-1 loss to Wigan.

Newcastle defender Davide Santon admits he would seriously think about leaving the club if Milan made a move for him.

Having played at the San Siro before, for fierce rivals Inter, the Italian would be happy to return with Milan as he has supported them since childhood.

However, the 22-year-old has declared that with his fiancee expecting their first baby, he is happy to be living in the North East and playing for the Magpies.

“I’m really happy in Newcastle. I like the city, the club and the atmosphere,” Santon told Gazzetta dello Sport. “I’m also engaged to Chloe and we’re expecting a baby in May.

“A return to Italy? At Newcastle I’m a king and I have a contract until 2016.

“But I’ve heard of the interest from Milan in me and that is really pleasing because I have been a Milan fan since I was a child.

“I’m not sure what would happen if another Italian club came in for me, but I’d seriously think about packing my bags for Milan.”

Santon also admits reuniting with former team-mate Mario Balotelli would be an extra incentive to join the Rossoneri.

He added: “Balotelli? We were still friends and I’m glad he’s doing well at Milan.

“His presence would be an incentive to accept AC Milan.”

Davide Santon believes the Premier League is stronger than Serie A and La Liga and is ready to snub a move back to Italy and stay at Newcastle United.

The 22-year-old joined the Magpies back in August 2011 from Inter and has impressed this season – with his sparkling displays earning him a recall to the Italy national squad.

AC Milan are reportedly watching his progress with a view to braining him back to Italy but Santon has insisted he is happy to remain where he is, having started every Premier League game for the Magpies this term.

He told The Evening Chronicle: “At the moment this is the only place to play for me.

“There are not a lot of Italians in the Premier League, just Fabio Borini. The Premier League is better than Serie A and better than La Liga. The fans here are the best.

“Playing at Newcastle has also helped me get back into the Italy squad. My coach in Italy is happy with me and so is Mr Pardew. I will keep giving 100 per cent.”

Reports emerging from Italy over the past few days have suggested the Netherlands goalkeeper could become the subject of a sizable bid from the Rossoneri, while Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi expressed his interest in the Italian full-back earlier this month.
Pardew, however, categorically stated that any such bids would be futile as the Magpies have no interest in allowing either player to leave the club.

“No, I’m not fielding calls on that because I’m not contemplating anyone going out,” the 51-year-old told The Evening Chronicle.

“I’ve not even given it the slightest thought. Even if we got an extraordinary offer, the answer would be no. There is no point ringing us. I’m confident I have an aggressive board.”

Expanding on the structural arrangement in place at the club, Pardew explained that he takes minimal involvement in financial negotiations, referring to the recent pursuit of Loic Remy, who this week joined QPR.

“I don’t do the contracts,” he added. “My part in the [Loic] Remy deal was very much just comforting the player in terms of coming into what would be a strange city for him.

“The finance side I don’t do, but I am as confident as I can be we are the most aggressive. We have been since I’ve been at the club.

“I don’t think we will get to the panic scenario. That doesn’t mean to say we won’t do a deal for someone on the last day of the transfer window. You must always leave that open because something could trigger events.”

Newcastle full-back Davide Santon has warned his team-mates that they “cannot lose” when the face Reading at St. James’ Park on Saturday.

After finishing fifth last season – and remaining in the chase for Champions League qualification until the last few weeks of the campaign – Alan Pardew’s side have suffered a dramatic downturn in form, as they sit just three points off the relegation zone with a return of 21 points from 22 Premier League games.

And the 22 year-old, who has featured in all of Newcastle’s league games this season, believes a morale-boosting win over fellow relegation strugglers Reading could kick-start his team’s season.

“[The game against Reading] is so important,” Santon told the club’s official website.

“Reading at home? We cannot lose, we cannot draw, we just have to win.

“After we hopefully win that game, that is where our season starts. We still have a lot of games left where we can pick up good results. Our minds have to be only on win, win, win, and nothing else.”

A loss for Newcastle could see them end the weekend inside the relegation zone, with games against Chelsea and Tottenham on the horizon.

Debuchy joined the Magpies from Lille for a reported €6.6 million having been linked with a move to Tyneside for several months.

Santon hopes that the experience of the 27-year-old, who has played 12 times for his country, can help arrest Newcastle’s slide towards the bottom three of the Premier League after they ended a run of four consecutive defeats in all competitions.

“It is always difficult in your first game but once he has trained more with us [more] and is speaking the language [better] it will be easier,” Santon told the club’s official website.

“But I think he is a very good player who can help us. He did well today, looked confident and experienced and I think he can be a great player for Newcastle.”
 
Santon praised Newcastle’s improved defensive display after Alan Pardew’s side kept out a team who have lost only three times all season at home.

The Magpies came into the game with seven defeats in their last 10 Premier League outings and Santon believes the stalemate is a step in the right direction despite their fall to 16th place in the table.

“It was a very good point, especially because today we were solid on the pitch,” he commented. “We had a great defence, right up until the final whistle.

“In training all week we have been working on defending, defending, defending, and today we looked much more solid because of it.

“Unfortunately we just couldn’t score and it was difficult with only one or two chances, but the clean sheet and a point away from home was very important for us.

“We knew before the game that it was not going to be easy to come to Norwich and get anything. Big teams have lost here, so we can be proud of our performance.”

Newcastle United defender Davide Santon has dismissed reports linking him with a return to Serie A with AC Milan, insisting he is happy where he is.

Milan president Silvio Berlusconi highlighted the former Inter man as one of several youngsters he was interested in potentially bringing to the club as the Italian giants continue to rebuild their squad.

Santon, 22, has other ideas, however, insisting that he is more than content seeing out his contract at Newcastle, explaining how he has enjoyed his 18 months at St James’ Park until now.

Speaking to the Newcastle Evening Chronicle, Santon said: “I have had a year and a half here. I really enjoy it. I am happy at the club.

“This is really important for a young player. We are a young team here and we are growing together. That will only make us stronger in the long-term.”

A couple of injury-hit years at Inter ushered in his move to Newcastle and after more fitness problems during his first season in the Premier League, the Italian has finally settled as the side’s first choice left-back, but he still expects more from himself.

“The team give me confidence to play my game,” he added. “If you play when you are stressed you can’t give 100 per cent. But when you are settled as a group you can do well.

“I know I can do better than now, though. And when we have all of our players fit, we know we can do better as a team.”

Fortunately for the Magpies, they have something of a hoodoo over the visitors in recent years, having won five and lost none of their last seven encounters with the Welsh side in all competitions. If you think we can win this match, then you can click here to bet on football.

Michael Laudrup’s men have failed to win away from home in the Premier League since their amazing 5-0 thrashing of QPR on opening day, and their goal in last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Southampton was the first on their travels since that game at Loftus Road.

Poor away form is nothing new for the Swans, who have lost 17 of their last 24 on the road in the Premier League, while Alan Pardew will be hoping to once again make St James’ Park the fortress where they lost just three league games last season.