rangers weigh up move for lovo.

OLD BOY ... Newcastle United's Peter Lovenkrands waves to both sets of fans during a pre-season friendly match against Rangers at the Ibrox last year.



By MILES STARFORTH
Published on Thursday 11 August 2011 12:30



RANGERS are weighing up a move for Newcastle United striker Peter Lovenkrands.


Lovenkrands spent six successful years at Ibrox earlier in his career.

And the Gazette undertstands the Scottish Premier League club are interested in taking him back north of the border.

Lovenkrands – who has a year left on his St James’s Park contract – knows his opportunities are likely to be limited this season.

The versatile 31-year-old enjoyed a run in Alan Pardew’s side in the secnod half of last season after the sale of Andy Carroll, scoring six goals.

However, with Pardew desperate to add another striker to his squad before the end of the month, Lovenkrands is likely to start the new campaign on the bench, though he is part of his plans.

And Pardew would be reluctant to lose striking cover should his Ibrox counterpart Ally McCoist firm up his interest in Lovenkrands.

Speaking to the Gazette while on tour with United in the US last month, Lovenkrands conceded he faces stiffer competition this season.

“I just hope to get as much playing time as possible,” he said. “But there are a lot of new faces, so it’s going to be harder to get playing time.”

Rangers would offer Lovenkrands – whose wife is from Glasgow – regular first-team football.

Lovenkrands remains popular on the Ibrox terraces, and the former Denmark international was given a standing ovation after last season’s pre-season friendly between the two clubs.

* NEWCASTLE United striker Phil Airey is set to join Hibernian on a six-month loan.

Easter Road manager Colin Calderwood worked with the 19-year-old during his time coaching at St James’s Park.

Defender James Tavernier has joined Carlisle United on an initial month’s loan.

Newcastle’s manager Alan Pardew farmed out Michael Richardson to Leyton Orient last week

"Lovenkrands – who has a year left on his St James’s Park contract – knows his opportunities are likely to be limited this season."

Are they hell, rate we're going he's gonna be our number one striking option lol