The midfielder is the fifth Frenchman to arrive on Tyneside in the January transfer window and he insists that the Magpies can become one of the top sides in the league, once they recover from their poor start to the current campaign.

"My personal objectives really are to finish off this season as best as we possibly can. I am going to give everything I can so Newcastle finish as high up the league as possible," he told reporters.

"For the future, I want Newcastle to be one of the very best teams in the Premier League. That's my wish and the club's also.

"I have signed here because I love the cub. They have some fantastic players.

"Newcastle aren't in the position where they should be at the moment, but I think if we all do well, we will finish as high as possible and really make the team one of the best in England."

Newcastle travel to face fellow strugglers Aston Villa on Tuesday evening and Sissoko insists the squad are well up for the clash.

"Tuesday night will be a difficult night. Aston Villa are also in a pretty poor position at the moment in the league," he said.

"It's a match which we certainly can't afford to lose. We must make sure we are motivated for Tuesday night so we come away with a result."