Newcastle bring in Ciaran Clark ahead of curtain-raiser

Newcastle continued their overhaul ahead of the Championship season with the double signing of Aston Villa's Ciaran Clark and Hull's Mohamed Diame on Wednesday.

Republic of Ireland international Clark joined for an undisclosed fee while Newcastle used a release clause in Diame's contract to sign him from Hull, with the Senegal midfielder turning down the offer of a new deal with the troubled Premier League newcomers.