SMITH COMPLETES NEWCASTLE MOVE

Alan Smith said the time was right to embrace a new era at St James' Park after signing a five-year deal with Newcastle on Friday for an undisclosed fee - believed to be in the region of £6million.

Smith revealed he had been close to a move to the north-east on a number of previous occasions but only now did he believe the future looked bright enough to complete the deal.

Smith said: "I've had the opportunity to come here a few times and I just felt this time was the right time.

"I felt that with what the gaffer is doing and the new owners the club has got a lot more stability."

The 26-year-old admitted it was a tough decision to leave Manchester United but he realised his first team chances would be limited with the imminent arrival at Old Trafford of Carlos Tevez.

Smith added: "I decided that if you are going to stay at a club and fight your place you need the opportunity to do that.

"I felt I'd been limited. It was a big decision but I'm really looking forward to the new challenge."

Smith's signing came as a huge boost to Magpies boss Sam Allardyce, who was also hoping to complete the signing of Brazilian Claudio Cacapa before the weekend.

Allardyce said he believed the best was still to come from Smith following his excellent recovery from the horrific broken leg which kept him out of the game for seven months in 2006.

Allardyce said: "I think he will be a major signing for Newcastle and with his recent career-threatening injury, I think it was a life-changing experience and will make him more determined than ever.

"He is a lot more mature and he has been with the best manager in club football today seeing how you win a championship. Not only do I expect his performances to rub off on the players but also his experiences.

"This was the quickest transfer I think I have done for many many years. For Alan and his agent to have progressed it so quickly is really, very rewarding indeed, and there is nothing better than signing a top quality player."

With Smith set to make his Magpies debut in Sunday's friendly against Sampdoria, Allardyce can now see a light at the end of the tunnel following a frustrating start to his St James' Park career.

His crippling injury list is showing signs of improving with David Rozental, Nicky Butt and Steven Taylor all training for the first time on Friday, and Shola Amoebi and Steven Carr coming into the reckoning for the Sampdoria game.

With Damien Duff now the only certainty among Allardyce's first team squad to miss the start of the season, Allardyce said: "It has been quite encouraging and I think there will be more coming back tomorrow."

ALAN SMITH FACTFILE

1980: October 28 - Born Rothwell, Leeds.

1997: Scores twice as Leeds beat Southampton 2-1 to win Premier Youth Cup.

1998: March - Signs professional contract with Leeds.

November - Scores with his first touch on Leeds debut in 3-1 win over Liverpool.

1999: Signs new five-year deal.

October - Scores on England Under-21 debut in 4-1 win over Denmark.

August - Opens season with five goals in four games and called into England squad.

2001: March 23 - Signs new five-year deal with Leeds.

October 16 - Makes England's starting XI against Macedonia at Southampton - but is sent off.

2003: February 4 - Agrees new three-and-a-half-year deal with Leeds.

October 28 - Throws bottle into the crowd during Carling Cup defeat by Manchester United.

November - Forced to leave England squad after being interviewed by police over incident.

November 20 - Crown Prosecution Service advise West Yorkshire Police not to charge Smith with any criminal offence.

2004: January 6 - Pleads guilty to improper conduct charge and banned for two matches.

May 5 - Leeds relegated from Premiership.

May 8 - Chaired off the field on final day by fans after scoring against Charlton.

May 26 - Dismays Leeds fans by completing £7million move to Manchester United.

2005: August 15 - Smith turns England down to play for United's reserves.

2006: February 2 - Suffers a dislocated ankle and broken leg in FA Cup defeat at Anfield.

August 22 - Makes comeback in United reserves.

2007: April 10 - Scores first goal in 18 months in 7-1 Roma win.

May 26 - Scores for England B against Albania and called into squad to face Brazil.

August 2 - Newcastle agree a £6million fee with United.

August 3 - Signs five-year deal with Newcastle.

Taken from =football365=