FORGET Rafa Benitez, there is another pulling power attracting players to Newcastle – the film Goal!

Toon new boy Kenedy, 21, this week revealed he first knew about the club because of the 2006 movie which depicts the fictional story of a Mexican immigrant making a dream move to St James’ Park.

3 Islam Slimani credits movie Goal! as one of his inspirations behind his Newcastle switch Credit: Getty - Contributor

And now deadline-day signing Islam Slimani has also credited Goal! as one of the inspirations behind his Newcastle switch.

The Algerian, 29, said: “Newcastle is an historic club so I've known about it from a very young age.

“When I was young, the film Goal! was around - and there were legendary players like Alan Shearer.”

Slimani will now be looking to follow in the footsteps of Shearer – as well as Goal’s Santiago Munez - by going on a scoring spree for his new club.

3 The 2006 movie is about a Mexican immigrant making his dream move to Newcastle Credit: Handout

The on-loan Leicester hitman has a thigh injury which is set to rule him out of Sunday’s trip to Crystal Palace.

But Slimani soon hopes to be fit and firing to help Newcastle, who are just one point above the drop zone, stay in the Premier League.

He said: “Hopefully I’m going to be able to come here and give them a hand.

“I'm a goalscorer and that is what this team needs.

3 Slimani is on loan for the rest of the season from Leicester Credit: PA:Empics Sport

“It needs more goals and that is what I'll try to do in my time here - score as many goals as I possibly can.

“The key thing here is staying up and fighting for the team and that's exactly what I want to do.

“My objective is to make this team better, fight to remain in the Premier League. That's what I joined this club for.”

Slimani moved to Leicester from Sporting Lisbon for £29million in August 2016 but has started just two Premier League games this season.

Monaco and West Ham were also interested in signing the forward this month.

And Slimani added: “It’s true that there were a lot of clubs that were interested in me.

“But knowing the power of the fans and the crowd here, and how great they are, and also speaking to the manager, it gave me the confidence to know that this was the right choice.

“Rafa Benitez is a big coach with a great reputation so him calling me and him being here had a big effect on my choice.”

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Joining Slimani at Newcastle on deadline day was keeper Martin Dubravka, who has signed on loan from Sparta Prague and is aiming to become the club’s new No1.

The Slovakian international, 29, said: “At big clubs you never have 100 per cent possession of the No1 shirt, you have to fight for it.

"You have to show the people around the club that you deserve to take this chance.

“It feels amazing to be here. It is a big step in my career and my life.

"It is a big opportunity for me. I am very curious about how it will be."