GRAEME Souness last night claimed midfielder Amdy Faye would be a "valuable addition" to Newcastle's ranks after completing a £2m move from Portsmouth.

The Senegal international finally put pen to paper on a four-year deal yesterday after completing a medical on Tyneside.

The formalities should have been tied up on Monday, but the transfer was delayed when the necessary documentation failed to arrive from the south coast.

Souness has insisted Faye is not a short-term replacement for the injured Nicky Butt but, after repeatedly bemoaning his lack of a holding midfielder, the Scot is understandably pleased at finally plugging the gap left when Gary Speed joined Bolton.

"We are delighted to have him on board," said Souness, who has now made three signings since the transfer window opened at the start of the month. "He will be a really valuable addition to our squad.

"Amdy is a defensive midfield player, which is an area we have been looking to strengthen."

Faye, who will wear the number 15 shirt, made 52 appearances for Portsmouth after joining from French side Auxerre in 2003.

While at Auxerre, the 27-year-old played in the same side as Jean-Alain Boumsong and he is expected to begin his United career on Saturday when Newcastle take on Coventry in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Olivier Bernard might not be available though, as both Celtic and Birmingham have been given permission to speak to the full-back.

Newcastle are understood to have agreed a fee of £400,000 with both clubs after finally losing patience with Bernard's refusal to sign a new deal on Tyneside.

With the former Lyon player out of contract in May, the Magpies have opted to accept a minimal fee rather than lose him for nothing in five months' time.

Celtic can offer Bernard the lure of Champions League football next term, but the Scottish champions are also tracking Liverpool's Stephane Henchoz and may struggle to afford both players.

Bernard has already turned down Newcastle's offer of £5m over a four-year period, but Birmingham's lack of a fit left-back may mean they are willing to offer a higher sum.

* Arsenal defender Kolo Toure has been charged by the FA for an alleged elbow into Alan Shearer's back during Newcastle's weekend match at Highbury.

* Real Madrid's former Newcastle United defender Jonathan Woodgate is hoping to return to action within five weeks, according to his agent.

The England centre-back is battling to overcome a ruptured tendon as well as his original thigh muscle injury.

He has yet to make a single appearance for Madrid following a £13.4m move from St James' Park in the summer.

''He is on his way back,'' Simon Bayliff said. ''When you are out for that amount of time stories grow.

''But he is confident he will be fit and playing again soon, hopefully by the end of February.''

Bayliff also insists there is no pressure on the 25-year-old to start playing again before he is ready. He added: ''When you get a repeated injury in the same area it takes a longer time to recover.

''The club are not throwing caution to the wind."

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