Newcastle defender Fabricio Coloccini is rapidly becoming a cult hero at Newcastle after emerging from the misery of his early days on Tyneside.

The 28-year-old Argentina international arrived at St James' Park from Deportivo la Coruna during the summer of 2008 with a big reputation and a £10.3million price-tag.

However, his first season in English football proved disastrous both personally and collectively as he struggled to prove his worth with the Magpies slipping ignominiously out of the Barclays Premier League.

But now in his third season with the club, he has rebuilt his reputation to the extent that he was handed the captain's armband for last weekend's 2-2 draw with Wigan and rewarded manager Chris Hughton with a priceless injury-time equaliser.

The new-found regard in which Coloccini is held by Newcastle fans has been cemented by his own song, and his contribution on the pitch has been hailed by his team-mates and manager alike.

Central defensive partner Mike Williamson said: "He is one of the most laid-back players I have ever played with. His quality on the ball is just unbelievable.

"Playing alongside him is not difficult because he is a world-class player.

"He has got everything in his game - he can head it, he can tackle, he can play. He has got the full package."

Hughton too has been delighted with the South American's form as he attempts to belatedly establish himself in the top flight.

He said: "He is having a wonderful season so far. Last season, he was certainly one of our better players in a good season, and what he has been able to do is take that form into this season, and it has been important.

"With Steven Taylor being injured and having brought Sol Campbell in and seen him miss the games he has missed through being injured and with Mike Williamson in his first season in the Premier League, Fabricio has been a vital player for us, and we hope that continues.

"I am a great believer that if you are a player who works hard enough at your game, are confident enough about your own ability and try to do all the right things, you stand in good stead to improve yourself as a player.

"He has been arguably our most consistent player this season."

Coloccini will once again provide the backbone to the team at West Ham tomorrow as the Magpies attempt to secure a first victory in four Premier League games to ease themselves back up the table.

Kevin Nolan will return to the squad after being rested last weekend, while full-back Danny Simpson will hope to make his first senior appearance of the season after getting a third reserve team game under his belt this week following his recovery from an ankle injury.

Simpson could be drafted in at right-back with summer signing James Perch finding life tough in the Premier League, especially last Saturday when he was taught a lesson by Wigan's flying Frenchman Charles N'Zogbia.

Newcastle have collected eight points from as many games to date and lie uncomfortably close to the foot of the table, but Hughton is convinced they will get stronger as the campaign goes on.

He said: "We are a club that is just back into the Premier League and we are learning with every game.

"We have got players who are adjusting to this division and learning with every game, so I don't want to look at too many negatives. There are plenty of positives to look at.

"Whichever games we go into, they are all big games. We play at West Ham on Saturday, we have Arsenal [in the Carling Cup] on the Wednesday and then of course the big derby game [against Sunderland] on the Sunday.

"They are all big games in this division and we have just got to make sure we go about our business the best way we can in all of them."