Davide Santon has pledged his commitment to Newcastle United.

The defender returns to the English top-flight this weekend after eight months of painstaking rehab doing the 9-5 shift at the club's training ground in a bid to overcome a lingering knee injury.

AC Milan are monitoring his playing return.

"I am happy here - I still have one-and-a-half years left on my contract and I will probably have to speak to Newcastle soon," he said. "I've always said I am happy here."