Kevin Nolan has spoken about his time at Newcastle and how club legend Gary Speed warned him against joining United in a revealing interview with the Liverpool Echo.

Nolan spent two-and-a-half years on Tyneside and is fondly remembered for his role in helping to re-establish the Magpies in the Premier League following relegation as well as scoring a hat-trick against fierce rivals Sunderland.

In a podcast special with Echo journalist Neil Jones, Nolan talks through his career from being a youth player at Liverpool, his time in the Premier League at Bolton, Newcastle and West Ham, through to management at Notts County.

The former United captain talks candidly about how many people warned against joining Newcastle in 2009 - including former Magpies hero, Speed.

He also details how relegation in 2009 was the ‘best thing that ever happened to the club’, why he left to join West Ham, his relationship with team-mate Nicky Butt and whether he should have won an England cap.

Gary Speed warned against Newcastle move

“A lot of people said to me ‘What are you doing?’

“Gary Speed said it to me on the way up there. Me and Speedo were close, and I’m obviously still gutted about what’s happened. I remember ringing and he said ‘Don’t do it Nobby, lad’.

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“But I needed a change. Bolton were going through a change and I needed to have a new challenge.

“It had become a bit familiar, everything was too repetitive. We weren’t doing as well and I was the go-to guy to have a pop at.

“I felt going there was a new challenge, a change, new surroundings, and you have got to make everyone around you believe that you are a good player.”

Craig Bellamy holds back tears talking about Gary Speed

Being relegated was the best thing that ever happened to Newcastle

“Being relegated was the best thing that ever happened to the club, because it got rid of a few players that didn’t want to be there.

“They were on inflated wages and people who talked the talk in the press but couldn’t walk the walk.

“We got rid of all that and that enabled a group of lads who galvanised the club with Chris Hughton and Colin Calderwood, and we started repairing it.

“I feel like that is what we did and that is why they are in the situation they are now because they have realised to be successful you have got to be together.”

How dropping to the Championship ‘kicked on’ Nolan’s career

“That’s why we did so well in the Championship and that kicked me on again because that year in the Championship, I got Championship Player of the Year.

“I felt ‘Right I’m going to prove now that I am a good player at Newcastle.’

“In the Premier League that year, I got 12 goals, I scored a hat-trick (against Sunderland) and I was riding the crest of a wave.”

On leaving for West Ham

“I got a phone call to say Sam’s just got the job at West Ham.

“I was supposed to be going in for a new contract but they pulled it. They pulled it because I still had two years left on my deal.

“So I gave the manager a ring and said ‘Look, West Ham have made an offer.’ So for what Newcastle paid to take me to the club, West Ham are willing to pay to take me there.’

“It was a no-brainer for me. I was getting the deal I wanted - the deal Newcastle put on the table and then took off.

“It was another chance for me to prove I could do it again and thankfully I did and pushed on and scored a lot of goals for West Ham.

“I think all of my moves came at the right time for me and I don’t ever regret any of them.

“I had a fantastic time at Bolton and then I move to Newcastle - who had Champions League facilities.

“52,000 watched you every week and then I went to West Ham who were going in the right direction.

“The Boleyn was a lovely ground and everything was moving forward.”

On his relationship with Nicky Butt

“Nicky Butt, who I played with at Newcastle.

“It was quite funny because when I first went to Newcastle, his first words were ‘oh my God, I hated playing against you and your Scouse accent’.

“And I said to him I hated playing against you and your Mancunian one.

“So we got off on the right foot and I really got on with Nicky - I still do now.

“I remember him coming up to me a month later. We were all out on a do and he said ‘I’ll be honest, mate, I didn’t expect you to be as good as what you are.’

“So that was quite nice of him and I did actually surprise people when I played and trained with them.”

On whether he should have got an England cap

“I thought there was times where I thought I at least warranted getting called up.

“But, at that time, the squad sort of picked itself.

“One or two might come in that was different to last time, but generally it stayed the same no matter how well you played.

“I have got the most appearances in the Premier League without a cap. When you look at it that way, you feel a bit cheated, but you can’t look back and think ‘What if?’

“I just count myself lucky I was able to play all of those games and score all of those goals and I have DVD’s which I can show my boy, who loves football to death.”