By Matthew Jones
June 15 2005

Newcastle United boss Graeme Souness comments on new signing, Scott Parker, who was unveiled today following a medical. The 24-year-old midfielder moved from Chelsea for £6.5m and penned a five-year deal with the club. GRAEME SOUNESS: "I have always been an admirer of him.

"He got into the team at Charlton as a young lad, showed a determination along with his ability that marked him out as being a special player.

"At Chelsea, things conspired against him because he is more than good enough to hold down a regular place in that team.

"But football is all about opinions as well and their manager and the people there felt that they could let him go, and we are delighted that we have got him because he is going to be a top player here for a very long time, and he is the type of player our crowd will respond to because he wants to win, and you can never have enough of them around you."

SCOTT PARKER: "I look at the club and I just feel that they are going in the right way with the squad they have got here and I felt it was the right club for me.

"When I went to Chelsea, I had a driving ambition to win trophies, and I feel here at Newcastle, I can still achieve that and that was probably one of my main reasons.

"I went to Chelsea with no thoughts that I was going to be a regular there, and that is what I wanted to be, I wanted to establish myself there.

"I do not feel I am coming away from Chelsea having failed, I just feel that maybe I was restricted in my opportunities really.

"Obviously I did not have a lot of chances to really show what I can do. But I am here at Newcastle, I am absolutely over the moon and really just cannot wait to get involved."