AFTER talking to Sam Allardyce and agreeing to move to Newcastle United, it was made clear to Alan Smith that he will be asked to play a variety of positions at St James' Park.

Bought as a replacement for Kieron Dyer, Smith accepts there could be more than one occasion this season when he will be asked to play in a midfield role.

His first competitive appearance for the Magpies in that position could come as early as tomorrow, at the Reebok Stadium against Allardyce's former club Bolton.

Smith, however, maybe just desperate to play football but he also remains focused and aware of the position that he built his career on - centre-forward.

During seven years at Leeds United between 1997 and 2004, the Yorkshireman established himself as one of the most sought after young strikers in the English game. Hence the reason why Sir Alex Ferguson paid for him to join Manchester United.

But if Smith thought he had problems working his way into the United team in previous years, where only Wayne Rooney has been regularly accommodated in one of the front two positions, then he faces an even harder task on Tyneside.

That, at first, may seem unusual but with Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins, Mark Viduka and Shola Ameobi all vying for a starting role then Allardyce's man-management could be tested to the full.

And not forgetting Albert Luque, after a bright pre-season in which Allardyce spoke glowingly about the Spaniard, then Newcastle have six forwards competing for two positions.

Or at least that is how the Newcastle boss has set his team out to play during the most part of the summer.

A switch to his Bolton style of three up front - with probably Viduka to be used as the targetman - would certainly aid Smith's cause.

And Smith realises that formations, methods and systems could change frequently during the first few months of the campaign as Allardyce tries to settle on what suits his squad most.

"I have come to be versatile but if anyone wants to see the best of me I think that is at centre forward,"

admitted Smith. "In a two, three or one up front formation I will be fine with that.

"I do enjoy playing in midfield but perhaps a bit more attacking than I was afforded at United.

But if someone asks you to play there you do it. That's me. That's my style and I won't change."

It was Smith's displays as a centre-midfielder after the exit of Roy Keane that helped convince Allardyce to part with £6m.

Smith's performances may not have been to everyone's liking, given that Keane was such a difficult player to replace, but Allardyce was notably impressed.

"Everyone sees him as a centre- forward, I know, but at Manchester United Alan played three or four positions very successfully for them and his only reason for leaving Old Trafford was what you hear from every footballer - a lack of games," said the Newcastle boss.

"He wants to play football, not be paid well and not play. For me that's one of the reasons why I signed him. He's just bursting to put his boots on, get on the field and play for Newcastle."

After breaking his leg in February last year at Liverpool there were fears he would never return as the same tigerish player.

However, during the closing stages of last season, he showed his incredible will to succeed and forced his way back into Ferguson's thinking for the run-in to the Premiership title.

Carlos Tevez's arrival at Old Trafford was always going to push Smith further down the pecking order and it was on the recent Far East tour when he decided to leave the club.

He was hardly used in three fixtures out there so when he returned to Manchester he headed straight for talks with Middlesbrough and Newcastle.

The fact Smith had already seen former Leeds team-mate Mark Viduka turn his back on Boro to join Newcastle helped convince him his future should lie with the Magpies.

The pair struck up a fantastic understanding during four years together at Elland Road after the Australian signed from Celtic in 2000, helping Leeds to the Champions League semi-finals in their first season together.

That year heralded 40 goals between them, with Smith contributing 18, and there is a clear determination from Newcastle's £6m signing to rekindle the old magic.

"I was pleased when everything got sorted out because I wanted to get a club, get settled quickly after coming back from Malaysia," said the 27-year-old.

"It was not just Mark who helped to convince me. I moved here for a number of reasons and perhaps the biggest of all was what Sam had to say.

"I was impressed with what he said he wanted to achieve and what he wants to put into place.

The sports science stuff, the backroom staff - he wants to give the players and the club the best opportunity to win something.

He wanted me to be part of that."

Smith has dipped in and out of the England squad, reached two FA Cup finals and won the Premiership during his three years at Old Trafford.

And he thinks his experiences of working under the demands of playing for two huge clubs either side of the Pennines has given him the perfect grounding to be a success at the glory-starved St James'.

"It will benefit both of us to have played for those clubs," said Smith. "Leeds and Man United demand 100 per cent, week in, week out and at Newcastle it won't be any different.

"I like what Sam is trying to create in terms of the stability and professionalism. He is trying to change it from what there was previously. As with Bolton, he will be trying to make us hard to beat. Adding quality players certainly helps."

Smith's quality has never been questioned, now he has to prove he has the ability and the temperament to help Newcastle back to what they once were: A Premier League force.