Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear hopes to tie up midfielder Peter Lovenkrands on a deal until the end of the season later this week.

The 28-year-old Danish international began a week-long trial on Tyneside on Monday after leaving German side Schalke earlier this season, and has already impressed.

Kinnear said: "We have spoken about him staying with me until the end of the season and then looking at it at the end of the season, and that's the position we find ourselves in at the moment.

"He is happy to do that, so hopefully we can tie something up and make something permanent at the end of this week for the rest of the season."

Kinnear also dismissed speculation linking the Magpies with a £500,000 move for West Ham midfielder Nigel Quashie, whose loan spell at Birmingham is drawing to a close.

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