Newcastle midfielder Kieron Dyer has signed a new four-year deal that will keep him at St James Park until 2009.

“The club wanted me to stay and I wanted to stay. It didn’t take long for my agent and the club to agree it all,” said the England international.

“This is a really important season for the club and for me. We have to improve on last year and I’m sure we will.”

Dyer’s future at Newcastle appeared to be in jeopardy last term.

In the first match of the season, under Sir Bobby Robson, he refused to play on the wing, an act which alientated him from the Newcastle supporters. Then, in April this year, he was involved in a fight with team-mate Lee Bowyer.

“There is an excellent spirit here and we are all looking forward to the start of the Premiership,” he told stellargroup.co.uk.

“I hope to stay fit and play in as many games as I can and hopefully there will be a place at the World Cup waiting for me at the end of the season.”