Newcastle's First Signing

Newcastle United manager Sam Allardyce has clinched the first signing of his reign at St James' Park by getting Middlesbrough striker Mark Viduka. The 31-year-old Australian international has signed a two-year deal with the option of a third.

Viduka scored 19 goals for Middlesbrough last season, and had been offered a new deal by Boro. Portsmouth, West Ham United and Birmingham City were also interested in signing the striker.

His departure will also pose problems for Boro boss Gareth Southgate, who is likely to see Viduka's strike partner of last season, Ayegbeni Yakubu, leave the club too. Southgate has been linked with Arsenal's Jeremie Aliadiere as a possible replacement for one of them.

Meanwhile Allardyce is poised to complete the signing of midfielder Joey Barton from Manchester City. Barton will be a replacement for Scott Parker, the Newcastle midfielder and captain who has completed a transfer to West Ham United.

Viduka, "I am over the moon. I am really happy. The main thing that attracted me to the club was that it is moving in the right direction. I think a new era is about to start. Sam Allardyce has come in and if we can get success then it will be something special."

Asked why St James' Park was the place to be, he replied: "The size of the club. The potential here is enormous and I am really pleased to be part of it. It is definitely one of the biggest clubs in the country. Talking to Sam was a big turning point for me. I really wanted to hear what Sam's plans were for the new season and what players he was looking to bring in, and his answers matched with what I was thinking myself. I want to win things and Newcastle United is a club that has all the ingredients to do that, especially with Sam coming in."

Newcastle boss, Allardyce said, "We are getting a player with vast experience in Premiership football and a natural goalscorer. He has the size and stature to lead our front line and is direct competition for Shola Ameobi, who is fit again now.

"It is common knowledge that every manager in the game wants two players for every position, and that is what we will have at Newcastle United next season as far as our strikers are concerned. It is a great start for us as we already have Oba Martins and Michael Owen who can play off a big man. It is all looking very exciting."

"Now we have Michael Owen, Mark Viduka and Oba Martins, who all score goals, and Joey usually chips in with seven or eight a season from midfield, so we will really be expecting to improve our goals tally next season."

Personal information
Full name: Mark Anthony Viduka
Date of birth: 09-10-1975 (age 31)
Place of birth: Melbourne, Australia
Height: 1.87 m
Playing position: Striker

Club information
Senior clubs
Years Club App (Gls)
1993-1995...Melbourne Knights...48 (40)
1995-1998...Croatia Zagreb...82 (40)
1998-2000...Celtic...37 (30)
2000-2004...Leeds United...130 (59)
2004-2007...Middlesbrough...72 (26)
2007-...Newcastle United

National team
1994-...Australia...38(6)

- Croatian and Ukrainian descent.
- in Australia he is affectionately known as 'Big Dukes'
- In his two seasons with the Melbourne Knights he was top goal scorer in the National Soccer League and was twice awarded the Johnny Warren Medal for NSL Player of the Year.
- won NSL title in season 1994/1995.
- The grandstand at Knights' Stadium, home of the Melbourne Knights was renamed the Mark Viduka Stand in his honour.
- Scottish Premier League Player of the Year after scoring 27 goals in his first full season at Celtic Park.
- had a song written about him by English singer/songwriter and Middlesbrough fan, Alistair Griffin.