Cheick Tiote denies 'disruptive' claims

Newcastle United midfielder Cheick Tiote has denied claims that he was a disruptive influence in the dressing room.

The Ivory Coast international, who has recently returned to the first team following a spell out with a long-term knee injury, had been accused of causing rifts among the players.

However, Tiote has insisted that those reports are not true and he did not let them get to him during his recovery from injury.

"It didn't affect me, I know myself that I didn't do anything bad. Everybody at the club and my partner knows that," the 29-year-old told The Chronicle.

"I just do my best for the team, that is the most important thing. All I want is to see the team go forward and win games."

Newcastle head coach Steve McClaren also denied the claims that Tiote was a troublemaker.