Bournemouth legend Steve Cook has hailed “physically excellent” Lloyd Kelly as the perfect fit for Newcastle United.
The Magpies are yet to confirm the 26-year-old’s arrival but he is widely expected to join once his Cherries contract expires on June 30. Kelly underwent a medical on Tyneside yesterday ahead of confirming a five-year
He will become Newcastle’s first summer signing and, as a freebie, allows Toon chiefs to loosen the purse strings elsewhere. Cook, one of Eddie Howe’s stalwarts during his Bournemouth years, spent 12 seasons on the south coast, three of them alongside Kelly.
The 33-year-old believes the versatile defender will be a “huge loss” to Bournemouth and backed him to succeed at St James’ Park. Cook told BBC Radio Solent: “From a Bournemouth point of view, it’s really disappointing to lose a quality player like Lloydy. He’s a physically excellent, lovely footballer. He’s physically amazing, he’s extremely fast, a specimen of a man.
“Technically he is a very good footballer. It’s a huge loss for Bournemouth and a great signing for Newcastle United. He can play centre-half in a back four, left centre-half in a back five, and left-back, so he’s very versatile, at such a young age as well. Newcastle are getting a great player and Bournemouth are obviously losing one.
