The 29-year-old forward lifted the lid on his decision to hang up his boots with Senegal after winning 32 caps in a six-year career at the highest level.
Diame - who scored just once for the African nation - insists it was a difficult decision to step aside to let the next generation of Lions’ stars come through.
He hopes his tough choice will reap rewards at club level by giving him a new lease of life with Rafa Benitez’s Championship table-toppers.
Diame has failed to win over many fans since a £4m summer move from Hull, scoring six times in 33 games.
But he hopes to kick-start his Toon career, and revealed: “It’s not been an easy decision, but I hope with all the rest that I will get from now I will be fresh to give my best for Newcastle.
“This is a massive club and people have big expectations. I know how important it is when you’re at a club like this that you perform at 200 per cent.
“That being the case, it was important for me to take this decision for the rest of my career. I’m proud of my achievements with Senegal but it’s time to look forward now.”
