N'Zogbia and Faye were reportedly pulled apart by colleagues in the dressing room at Goodison Park before Sunday's final game of the campaign against Everton.

And the 21-year-old – who rarely talks to the media – has taken the unusual step of making a public denial of the story.

It was claimed the dispute was over the disparate wages earned by the pair, with N'Zogbia insisting he and higher-earner Faye are good friends off the pitch.

N'Zogbia – who has been unsettled at St James's Park for some time, and whose agent revealed he wanted to join Tottenham Hotspur in January – has also claimed he is happy at Newcastle.

He said: "I'm happy at Newcastle United, and I have always been.

"At the moment, all I'm concentrating on is in playing for the French Under-21 squad in Sweden at the end of this month.

"Then, like the rest of the squad, I will be looking at what players we are going to get in."

N'Zogbia, however, would not go as far as to say he would be at the club next season.

And Keegan, understood to be willing to listen to offers for N'Zogbia, will make the final decision on his future.

However, a move to White Hart Lane does not now look a possibility, with the club having signed another left-sided midfielder, one-time Newcastle target Luka Modric.

N'Zogbia went on: "I've been at Newcastle since I was 17, and I've never been involved in a fight with anyone.

"And why would I pick a fight with Abdoulaye Faye?

"Not only is he a friend, but he's also bigger than me."

N'Zogbia was signed in controversial circumstances by Sir Bobby Robson from Le Havre in the summer of 2004.

The move sparked a protracted dispute with the French club, which eventually won compensation for his departure.

He started this season in Sam Allardyce's side, covering at left-back, but his appearances under Keegan were limited towards the end of the season.