Newcastle United Football Club

• Nickname:Magpies
• Founded:1881
• Manager:Alan Pardew

• Ground:St James' Park
• Capacity:52193

Milner seeking Magpies exit

27 Aug 2008 - 12:33:36

Click To Enlarge

Newcastle United have been rocked by the news that winger James Milner has handed in a transfer request at St James' Park.

The 22-year-old has been with the Magpies since the summer of 2004, when he moved to Tyneside for £3.6million from Leeds United, but he has been linked with a return to Aston Villa.

England Under-21 international Milner spent the whole of the 2005-06 season on loan at Villa Park, scoring three times in 33 appearances for the Midlands club.

A statement on the club's official website read: "Newcastle United can confirm that it has received a written transfer request from James Milner.

"The club is very disappointed that James sees his footballing future as being away from St. James' Park. He is a valued member of the squad and it is only a year ago that he signed an improved long-term contract.

"We have yet to receive an offer for James that has matched our valuation of him."

Magpies boss Kevin Keegan had praised Milner after the 3-2 Carling Cup win at Coventry City, saying: "James has a three-year contract with us at the moment.

"I don't even want to talk about losing James Milner. He's a very important player for us and I think he's worthy of a call-up to the senior England side."