Cabaye relishing Tottenham test

Published Oct. 15, 2011 9:16 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Magpies currently sit in fourth place in the Premier League after an unbeaten start to the campaign, taking 15 points from their opening seven games. But some critics have argued that - apart from the opening draw with Arsenal - Alan Pardew's side have not met any of the top sides. In response to such criticisms, French ace Cabaye, a summer signing from Lille, is relishing facing Spurs as a chance to prove they deserve to be where they are. He told the Daily Star: "Maybe we did not expect to be so high in the league. But this team has a lot of quality, as we have shown by staying unbeaten. "The tone was set in the first game against Arsenal when we didn't concede any goals. "That draw was a positive result and then we followed that by winning the derby at Sunderland, which really set us up. "Now we have a really big test and the Spurs game gives us a chance to prove why we are in fourth place." Fellow French ace David Ginola proved a hit with the Toon Army in the 1990s - helping Kevin Keegan's side finish second in the top flight - and Cabaye hopes to emulate his compatriot. He added: "I have never met him but I remember him doing so well at Newcastle. "It is a wonderful memory and something for me to try to emulate. "It is true Newcastle's results in recent years have not been great, but they do not correspond to the size of the club. "Hopefully we can make the size of this club correspond to our achievements in the coming year. That has got to be our aim." Newcastle were interested in signing Cabaye before Pardew was made boss and the Magpies manager was then convinced to sign the player after watching Lille play Lyon earlier this year. Pardew said: "Yohan was very much in our sights before I arrived, but when I saw him that once, I knew he was a player and thought we would be fortunate to sign him. "I did feel we would have a bit more competition than we did, so it was a surprise that we had a clear run. "Since then everything I've seen has reinforced my initial view, even though he has had a couple of disappointing games."