PETER LOVENKRANDS signed for Newcastle United for the second time in eight months last night, before outlining a desire to help “one of the biggest clubs in England” return to the Premier League.

Despite interest from Birmingham, Lovenkrands agreed a three-year deal at St James’ Park yesterday to become the Magpies’ first permanent signing since May’s relegation.

But while frustrations will have grown among supporters following owner Mike Ashley’s failure to strengthen an inexperienced squad further on deadline day, the Danish forward had no reservations about committing his future to the club.

Lovenkrands was one of five players released in May, while a further four players were sold and three have left on a temporary basis.

Only defender Danny Simpson has arrived on loan from Manchester United, although Chris Hughton still hopes to be given the go-ahead to bring in further emergency loan signings once Football League rules allow next week.

Lovenkrands is unconcerned about the size of the squad he has joined and insists he has his mind set on becoming a St James’ Park hero for the rest of his career.

“There were a few offers from interested clubs but Newcastle were always my preferred choice and once I knew there was a chance that it could happen that was the move I wanted to make,” said Lovenkrands.

“It first came up a couple of weeks ago but I have been in touch with a lot of the lads since I left. They were keeping me updated with the situation.

Now it’s all sorted I want to be here for a long time.

“Playing in the Championship doesn’t bother me. I have rejoined a club that doesn’t deserve to be in the Championship, a club the size of Newcastle deserves to be in the Premier League.

“I was as disappointed as everyone else in May and I want to do everything I can to make sure this club gets back to where it belongs.”

Lovenkrands has been monitoring the takeover situation on Tyneside and has been aware that Ashley’s ailing attempts to sell the club have resulted in a reluctance on the owner’s part to strengthen a depleted squad.

“The club means a lot to me and it doesn’t matter what is going on,” he said. “The people of the club, the fans, the players, everyone has been great to me and that was the main thing for me. Now I’m just looking forward to moving down here with the family from Glasgow.”

While Lovenkrands has been patiently waiting for Newcastle to come in with a suitable offer, he has missed the start of the new season and, more importantly, an entire pre-season programme.

But the 29-year-old, who passed his medical yesterday, will train with his team-mates for the first time today and is confident ten days training will ensure he is in good shape for the trip to Cardiff on September 13.

“It’s not as if I haven’t been doing any training, any running,”

said Lovenkrands. “I have been putting my own work in away from the training ground since the end of last season and I feel in good shape.

“I know that I’m probably not 100 per cent match sharp, but I’m sure that with a few games of five-a-side and a few training ground matches in the next week or so I will be ready for Cardiff.”

Lovenkrands was the only arrival on deadline day despite speculation linking both Aston Villa’s Marlon Harewood and Celtic’s Jan Venegoor of Hesselink with moves to Tyneside.

Hughton, however, remains interested in taking Manchester United pair Darron Gibson and Craig Cathcart on loan.

“There’s a togetherness in this group of lads,” said Hughton. “We have experienced a fair amount of upheaval and amongst all of this they have realised they can get on with the job in hand.

“They want to get this club back in the Premier League – they’re a determined group.”

■ Newcastle goalkeeper Fraser Forster will stay on loan at Norwich until January.