Newcastle United's Ayoze Perez aims to boost goal tally this season

Newcastle United forward Ayoze Perez has said that he is hopeful he can build on the seven Premier League goals that he scored last season.

The 22-year-old, who signed from Tenerife last summer, was linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur, but after yesterday's 6pm transfer deadline, he remained a Magpies player.

"It's harder because I had a good season last year, and I have to keep going and improve and maybe do better if I can," The Shields Gazette quotes Perez as saying. "That's what I want to do.

"I did good numbers, but I have to keep working every day and in training. I don't think about the numbers or to do better than last year - just work and do my best for the team."

Perez has featured three times for Newcastle this season, but is yet to find the back of the net.