AYOZE PEREZ is focused on helping Newcastle United secure a brighter future after dismissing talk of a summer move from St James’ Park.

The Spanish striker has been a bigger hit on Tyneside than anyone could have imagined so early after arriving from Tenerife last summer.

Even though the goals have dried up for him in a Newcastle shirt since the turn of the year, Perez showed enough between October and December to suggest he could be on the big stage for years to come.

His finishing qualities were clear when he scored five goals during that run and, even though he was signed largely for the future, he has become a key player for Newcastle and has attracted interested from Manchester United and Arsenal, among others.

But Perez, speaking after winning Tenerife’s sportsman of the year, is not even thinking about what could happen in the future. He is just intent on paying Newcastle back for gambling on paying £1.5m for him last summer.

He said: “It would be a mistake to start thinking that (leaving) now; it is too early. I’ve been at Newcastle for a few months and I’m very happy. I continue to work as usual and I’m in no rush.

“I just think about helping the team and returning all the trust they have given me. Everything else, if you keep working hard, sooner or later it will end up coming.”

Despite the topsy-turvy nature of Newcastle’s season, which has included losing manager Alan Pardew, Perez has loved every minute of his time in the Premier League and is desperate for it to continue.

The 21-year-old told Diario de Avisos: “The truth is I can’t ask for any more because 2014 was a great year in every way. It is wonderful how things have gone in no time. It has changed my life, as from almost not playing in Tenerife to playing in the Premier League, the jump as been great.

“I have progressed so quickly and things have changed so much. As I said, 2014 was a great year for me and I just hope that 2015 follows the same line.”

With Senegalese striker Papiss Cisse suspended for seven games after spitting at Manchester United’s Jonny Evans, there will be greater pressure on Perez to rediscover his scoring touch in the final ten matches of the season.

He will almost certainly start up front against Everton on Sunday and is well aware of the top ten target; and that could yet keep John Carver in the job if it can be achieved.

Perez said: “There are ten pretty important matches to come and it is a tough schedule. It is true that we have not been consistent, but we want to try to finish the season as high as possible. We want to end the season with a good feeling before starting to prepare for next season.”

If Newcastle can find a way to overcome Everton on Sunday, that could give them a significant lift in their push to finish in the top half of the Premier League.

And winger Sammy Ameobi would love that to happen because he has revealed there is a desire from within the dressing room to give Carver the job on a full-time basis.

Ameobi said: “John Carver is a man who sticks by his players. He’s been around for so long and everybody is used to him. We all want the best for him and are trying our best for him. Hopefully he keeps the job.”