 Teenager James Milner insists he can't wait to start his Newcastle United career after completing a £5m move to St James' Park. As revealed in later editions of last night's Chronicle, the 18-year-old signed a five-year deal at St James' Park yesterday after a medical, and Milner will meet his new team-mates on Monday when Sir Bobby Robson's squad reports for pre-season training. Among those welcoming midfielder Milner to the North East will be his former Elland Road colleagues Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer. Milner revealed it was a wrench to leave Leeds, his boyhood club, but added that he is now focused on the challenge ahead of him at Newcastle. The move enables Milner to remain in the Premiership, having already made 48 top-flight appearances for Leeds, and sample European football for the first time. And in his first interview Milner said: "Obviously I've got mixed feelings about leaving the club I've been with for such a long time. "But I am very excited about the challenge ahead of me - coming to a club like Newcastle United is fantastic. "You just have to look at the squad list and the coaching staff. They have got some unbelievable players, inter-nationals and some who are at the top of their game. "Alan Shearer has been scoring goals for a long time and keeps on doing it. To play with guys like him is a dream come true and can only help me become a better player. "I always watched him as I was growing up and the number of goals he has scored in his career is incredible." He added: "I'm looking forward to training and playing with Alan and the rest of the players. It will be a joy just to do that. I cannot wait to meet up with everyone. I know I can become a better player at Newcastle and the standard of the side around me can only help make that easier." Right-footed Milner, an England Under-21 team-mate of Michael Chopra, Darren Ambrose and Steven Taylor, can play on either flank, or even through the middle. Milner will vie with Ambrose for a right-wing berth, as well as providing cover on the left for Laurent Robert, having spent most of last season on the left-wing for Leeds as they tried in vain to avoid relegation from the Premiership. Milner made 38 appearances for Leeds last season, scoring five goals. The season before last, Milner broke Wayne Rooney's record as the youngest-ever Premiership scorer by four days, aged just aged 16 and 357 days, when he secured a win for Leeds at Sunderland's Stadium of Light in December 2002. United will follow the capture of Milner with a move for Nicky Butt next week, and could step up their interest in James Beattie in the next few days. | 
