Finland striker joins Newcastle

Newcastle have confirmed the signing of Finland international striker Shefki Kuqi until the end of the season.

The 34-year-old, who was a free agent after his contract with npower Championship Swansea was terminated by mutual consent last month, could go straight into the squad for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Blackburn, one of his former clubs.

He has been drafted in to provide back-up to strikers Leon Best, Peter Lovenkrands and Nile Ranger following the £35m departure of Andy Carroll to Liverpool, Xisco’s loan move to Deportivo la Coruna and Shola Ameobi’s fractured cheekbone.