Newcastle defender Jose Enrique is adamant he will not leave Tyneside for Sunderland during the January transfer window.

Repeated speculation in recent weeks has linked the 23-year-old Spaniard with a switch to the Magpies' arch-rivals after an impressive run of form.

However, while the former Villarreal full-back is intent on returning to the Barclays Premier League, he is desperate to do it with Newcastle.

Enrique told the Journal: "I don't care about Sunderland. Even if the newspapers said Chelsea, I wouldn't care.

"I worry for my team - I love the city, I love the club and I don't care about signing for another team. I don't read the papers because I don't understand English that well! Some players were joking with me about what it said.

"I want to go back to the Premier League, that is true, but I want to go back to the Premier League with Newcastle. This is a big, big, big club in England and it is important that it gets back into the Premier League."