Newcastle defender Sebastien Bassong is determined to keep his FA Cup dream alive after sampling the competition for the first time.The 22-year-old former Metz player remembers watching the final of English football's premier knockout tournament at home in France as a child, and was delighted to make his debut in it during Saturday's 0-0 third round draw at Hull.

Now having tasted the competition for the first time, he is desperate to keep the club's run going after they were handed a home tie against either Millwall or Crewe of League One in the fourth round if they can get past the Tigers in a replay.

Bassong said: "The FA Cup is world famous. When I was a child in France, I always watched the final.

"No matter what country you are from, you can watch this competition all around the world, and everybody talks about it.

"It's very exciting and for me, it is a dream come true to play in it. It will be good to keep that dream going against Hull.

"We are already looking forward as the FA Cup is important for us this season.

"It's in our hands. We're still in the competition and we have to happy with the draw.

"Now Hull will have to come to Newcastle and we will make it very hard for them to get into the next round."

Newcastle could be forgiven for not considering the FA Cup as a priority this season with their Premier League status far from assured and the club's off-the-field situation just as uncertain.

Manager Joe Kinnear is trying to strengthen his squad after owner Mike Ashley failed to find a buyer for the Magpies, although his task is being made all the more difficult by speculation that several of his highest-profile players could leave this month with long-serving keeper Shay Given having already indicated his dissatisfaction with life at St James' Park at the moment.

The Irishman's commitment, however, could not be questioned once again at the KC Stadium as he contributed to a hard-fought 0-0 draw, a solid response to the 5-1 home defeat by Liverpool six days earlier which had left him in such despair.

Bassong's return from suspension - he missed out against the Reds having been sent off in the 2-1 defeat at Wigan on Boxing Day - was also a factor as Kinnear's injury-hit squad welcomed back a man who has become a key member in recent weeks.

He said: "The suspension was frustrating for me and I wanted to come back and have a good game.

"It was good to be back and playing after suspension, and it was a good result to come back with.

"When you keep a clean sheet, then you have done your job. If we can continue to keep it tight and not concede, we will stay in it [the cup] longer."

Newcastle's selection problems show little sign of abating as they prepare for Saturday's crucial league clash with West Ham at St James.

The news that Charles N'Zogbia should be fit after being forced off at the weekend with a dead leg came as a boost, but Nicky Butt picked up his fifth booking of the campaign and will miss out against the Hammers.

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