Newcastle midfielder Nolan hopes for continued success

Nolan won the 2011 Sport Newcastle Sport Personality of the Year award

Newcastle United midfielder Kevin Nolan is hoping his Sport Newcastle Personality of the Year award will be the platform for further success.

The 28-year-old was recognised for helping the Magpies to promotion from the Championship and his efforts on their return to the Premier League.

"This is only the beginning," Nolan told BBC Newcastle.

"Hopefully I'll get a few goals between now and the end of the season and we'll finish in a respectable position."

Nolan added: "I've had a great 2010 but I want to have a better 2011, and an even better 2012."

The Liverpool-born midfielder has been a success following his £5m move from Bolton in January 2009, with 29 goals in 86 appearances.

Meanwhile Newcastle's return to the Premier League following relegation in 2008-09 has seen the club climb to ninth in the table, despite a change of manager with Alan Pardew replacing Chris Hughton in December.

"We've got a fan-base and a team of players that have a bond with this club," Nolan continued.

"We're up and down because when we lose this whole city feels as though it's not smiling, but when we win it feels like it's sunny everyday and we're smiling, and it's that way because we live and breathe football.

"We're trying to keep a level head, put it on an even keel and make it the top club that it is. "We're looking at one thing, and one thing only and that is to get to 40 points as quickly as possible."