The 31-year-old on Thursday completed a free transfer move from Middlesbrough when he signed a two-year contract with the option of a third. And he is now relishing the chance to link up with £17million England frontman Michael Owen, Nigeria international Obafemi Martins and Shola Ameobi. Viduka said: "I have played at St James' Park quite a few times now for Leeds United and Middlesbrough and I have always felt it was a great place to play. "Now it is going to be different having all the those supporters cheering me on, and I keep imagining what this is going to be like. "To tell the truth, I cannot wait for it all to happen come August. "Everyone knows that the strikeforce Newcastle United already have is top class, and I am looking forward to playing with them. "Hopefully I can bring another dimension to how the team plays, as well as chipping in with some goals." Viduka's physical presence and goalscoring record - he was Boro's leading marksman on 19 last season - will inevitably provoke comparisons with Tyneside legend Alan Shearer, and former team-mate Michael Bridges believes he can have a similar impact. Bridges, who played alongside Viduka at Leeds and, briefly, Shearer at St James', said: "He is what Newcastle have been crying out for since Alan Shearer retired. "I think he's a hell of a catch. You cannot have regrets in football, but for a few games before my injury, Alan Smith and myself played off him and I really enjoyed it. "He was a hell of a player and I would have loved to have had more games alongside him. "To be fair to Mark, when he was at Leeds, I don't think we saw the best of him - maybe the only time was in a game against Liverpool when he scored four goals. "But all the time in training, he would be doing unbelievable things considering the size of him. "He's a big lad - so powerful and strong - but he's also a very, very good footballer - and he knows where the goal is. "You have got Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins, who are quite similar with their pace, and I think Mark would be an ideal partner for either of them."