Ameobi commits future to Newcastle

Newcastle have confirmed striker Shola Ameobi has signed a contract extension which commits him to the club until 2012.

Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi handed manager Joe Kinnear a welcome boost today by signing a three-year contract extension.

The 27-year-old, one of four men to be offered new deals last month, became the first to put pen to paper.

This news completes a remarkable turnaround for the former England Under-21 international, who spent the latter part of last season on loan at Stoke and rejected a permanent move to the Britannia Stadium.