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Newcastle United have signed 6ft 3in centre-back Stuart Findlay from Celtic and the youngster is delighted to have made the switch to St James’ Park .

The 20-year-old spent last season on loan at Kilmarnock where he made 22 appearances for Lee Clark’s side in the SPL.

Findlay will start the season in the Under-21s at Newcastle but Rafa Benitez has moved quickly to bolster his second string with very little coming from the club’s reserve pool in the last couple of years.

After signing for the Magpies, Findlay said: “I played about 30 games last year at Kilmarnock, and it was a good experience, but it’s a different experience coming here and trying to push my way into the first team.

“I went there as a first team player, but I relish the challenge of being under-21s and trying to perform and show what I’m all about.

“I’d like to come in and be able to communicate with the players what I’ve picked up from playing with 35-year-old players, and I want to bring that in and pass it on to people my age as I feel that with the amount of games I’ve played, I can say I’m experienced for my age, because to play over 50 games is a decent achievement.

“If I can bring that down and try and hand over some of the harsh lessons I’ve learned playing against men, it’s certainly something I will try to do.”

And he revealed his pride at signing for United, he told NUFC.co.uk:

“It’s a proud moment for me.

“I’ve come from Celtic, who are a big team in Scotland, but to be able to leave Celtic and join a team who are just as big, if not bigger down in England is a really proud moment for me.

“I’m delighted to be here.

“I had a few other offers up in Scotland, and I could have stayed and maybe played first team football straight away, but to get the chance to come down and impress, and hopefully get the chance to play in the Newcastle first team, is something that not many people in the world can say they’ve been able to do.

“If I can push on and prove myself in the under-21s and get that chance, then it would just be a dream come true for me.”