Souness backs Boumsong to be king of defenders

Newcastle boss Graeme Souness believes his new eight-million-pound acquisition Jean-Alain Boumsong, shown here in May 2004, could become one of the best central defenders in the Premiership.

Newcastle boss Graeme Souness believes his new eight-million-pound acquisition Jean-Alain Boumsong could become one of the best central defenders in the Premiership.

The 25-year-old France international is set to join the Magpies from Rangers after agreeing a five-and-half-year deal.

He has passed a medical on Tyneside and the move should be completed soon.

He will be the second player to join Newcastle in the January transfer window after Celestine Babayaro's signing was also confirmed on Friday.

The arrival of Boumsong will plug the gap left after the 13.4-million-pound sale of Jonathan Woodgate to Real Madrid in August.

"We feel he will be a big influence at the club, both short-term and long-term," said Souness whose team has been in freefall in recent weeks.

"He is a young man who has a great desire to be the best. He is a communicator on the pitch and you can never have enough of them.

"That is something we have been lacking. We do not have enough people who are talkers, and he will certainly help us in that department. I think the supporters will enjoy watching him play."

Boumsong will join Nigerian international full-back Babayaro in a new-look defence.

The former Chelsea full-back will officially complete his move north on Saturday.

"He is a good defender and the world is not full of left-sided players - there is a shortage of them," said Souness.

"He has got vast experience and he is still only 26 years old. He got in Anderlecht's team at 16 and I think he holds the record for playing in the Champions League at such a young age.

"I see him as being a really, really solid left-sided defender for us."

Souness has also been boosted by the return from injury of skipper Alan Shearer who will play against Birmingham on Saturday after missing the last nine games with a thigh problem.

During his absence, Newcastle have not won in the last seven games, a run which has seen them slip to 14th in the table.

"We know what Alan Shearer is about," said Souness.

"He is a man that you would want with you in a battle, a man you would want with you in a difficult time.

"Apart from his goals and his 90 minutes on a Saturday, we have missed him out of the group because he lifts training by his attitude and I think people in the dressing room get confidence from having him around."