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Gouff Back On The Goal Trail
Written by Newcastle Utd
On Saturday Yoan Gouffran scored his first goal since Boxing Day, and says it will give him a real boost
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
Yoan Gouffran got back on the goal trail against Wellington Phoenix on Saturday - and admitted it will do his confidence in the final third the world of good.
The French forward was arguably United's standout player at the Westpac Arena as the Magpies made it two wins from two on their pre-season tour of New Zealand.
Gouffran capped his excellent personal performance with the only goal of the game shortly before half-time - a towering header from a well-worked short corner.
And being the first time he had found the back of the net since scoring against Stoke City on Boxing Day last season, a weight has been lifted off the shoulders of the 28-year-old.
"It was nice to score and I hope it is not my last of this season. I hope it is the first of a lot of goals," he told nufc.co.uk.
"It was important for me because I hadn't scored since Boxing Day, so it was good for my confidence.
"Having said that, it's not a big problem for me though, because when I play I work hard for the team.
"I always want to score but if I don't, I don't mind too much, as long as the team are winning. The team is the most important thing."
Newcastle will touch back down on Tyneside on Monday afternoon following their success in the southern hemisphere.
With two wins, five goals scored and none conceded, things couldn't have gone much better for Alan Pardew's side.
"We played well and are happy to leave New Zealand with two wins against two good teams," said Gouffran.
"It was very hard against Wellington, who played very well.
"But these games have been good for the confidence of the team. Keeping clean sheets is good for the goalkeeper and the defenders, and scoring goals is great for us."