TITUS Bramble is confident that the capture of Nicky Butt will cement Newcastle's status as "one of the top clubs in the country".

Butt became Sir Bobby Robson's third summer signing when he completed a protracted £2.5m move from Manchester United yesterday.

The England international, who has been given the No 4 shirt, will make his Newcastle debut alongside fellow new face Patrick Kluivert in this weekend's inaugural Newcastle Gateshead Cup.

And, after being linked with a move to the North-East all summer, Bramble is delighted that Butt has finally put pen to paper.

"Nicky Butt is the sort of player that Newcastle should be signing," said Bramble, who was part of the United side that slipped to a 2-1 defeat against his former club Ipswich on Wednesday night. "He's a top player moving to one of the top clubs in the country.

"We've signed Patrick, we've signed James (Milner), and now we've signed Nicky Butt.

"That's three great players to add to what we already had last season and it helps in terms of the depth of the squad that we've got.

"You'd certainly rather be playing alongside someone like Nicky Butt than against him. He's a top class international player and players like that are always good to have on board."

In the continued absence of Jonathan Woodgate, Bramble partnered Andy O'Brien at the heart of the Newcastle defence at Portman Road.

Robson remains confident that Woodgate will have recovered from his long-standing calf problem to face his hometown team Middlesbrough on the opening day of the Premiership season.

But, with the 24-year-old having been beset by injury problems since making a £10m move from Leeds in January 2003, the partnership between Bramble and O'Brien could play a crucial role in determining Newcastle's fate over the next ten months.

The pair are likely to be side by side again for at least part of this weekend's games against Rangers and either Sporting Lisbon or Feyenoord, and Bramble is delighted to be facing the toughest of tests at such an early stage of pre-season.

"When Woody's fit he's a great player," he said. "He's just about irreplaceable. But, if he does get injured, then it's up to me and Andy to come in.

"We've done that in the past and, if we're asked to play together this weekend, I'm sure we'll do it again.

"We're going to be playing against a lot of international players but, week in week out we play against international players, so this is a good test.''

This weekend's competition will give Newcastle fans their first glimpse of Kluivert and Butt, and most will also be getting their first look at the club's other summer signing - Milner.

The 18-year-old has played in all three of the club's away friendlies since making a £5m move from Leeds United at the start of the month, but tomorrow's game with Rangers offers him the chance of a first outing at St James' Park.

The versatile winger was part of the Leeds side that lost 1-0 on Tyneside in January, was in the thick of the action as Newcastle recorded two draws on their pre-season tour of the Far East, and also enjoyed a half-hour substitute appearance in Suffolk on Wednesday night.

l Newcastle's French winger Laurent Robert has reportedly leapt to the top of Espanyol's summer wanted list.

The skilful left-sided player, formerly of Paris St Germain, is fancied by new Espanyol coach Miguel Angel Lotina to bring creativity to his team for the new Spanish season.

Spanish daily newspaper Sport quoted Robert as saying: ''All that I can say is that at Newcastle I am very happy, but for all players to move to the Spanish league is a step forward.

''It is always good to know other championships and see new cultures.''

Meanwhile, chairman Freddy Shepherd is demanding results to match his investment.

He said: ''We've got a huge wage bill at Newcastle and we want results.

''I think we've got to do it this season. All the ingredients are there - the best stadium and the best training facilities.

''We need to strengthen the defence, we've got a great squad in midfield and up front so all the ingredients are there and we need a bit of luck.

''I wouldn't be going into it if I didn't think we could challenge the top three and I don't want to hear from anyone in Newcastle that says we can't do that.''

Shepherd has signed Kluivert and Milner this summer and is delighted with the recruitment of Butt.

He added: ''He's a class act and he's the only one that Bobby wanted so we've got him and we're sure he's going to perform for us.

''I think he will fit in because he's a holding defensive player and that's one thing he can do if that's what he's selected for.

''He's a great addition with his experience and I'm sure the supporters will love him.''

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