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Mapou Maintains World Cup Ambition
Written by Newcastle Utd
Magpies defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa hopes to catch the eye of Didier Deschamps by helping Newcastle beat West Brom on Saturday
By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa is hoping that his recent sterling performances for Newcastle will see his gatecrash France's World Cup party.
He watched as Yohan Cabaye, Mathieu Debuchy, Moussa Sissoko and Loic Remy helped Les Bleus book their place in Brazil by overturning a 2-0 defeat in the first leg of their play-offs to qualify at Ukraine's expense.
And, with national team boss Didier Deschamps keeping a close eye on the Magpies, Yanga-Mbiwa is still hoping to gain a seat on the plane for summer's tournament.
The former Montpellier captain has three caps for his country and has been outstanding in the Barclays Premier League over the last few weeks as United have won each of their last three matches.
When asked by nufcTV whether he felt he was close to winning a France recall, he said: "I don't know - I try to do well and I know the gaffer of the France team watched the (Norwich) game.
"We won and at the end of the day it's for him to decide if he calls me or not.
"The French team qualified and all the players are happy, and trying to do well to help themselves go to the World Cup."
United host West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, with Yanga-Mbiwa hoping to keep his place. He played at right-back last weekend but compatriot Debuchy is back from a one-game ban.
The Baggies have achieved some eye-catching results this term and the Newcastle defender said: "I think all the matches in the Premier League are hard so we need to keep the spirit to win the next game.
"After that, I know we will have two hard games - Swansea and Man United - so we need to get many points to go up."
Click here to watch the full nufcTV interview with Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa