Harewood ended last season on loan at Wolverhampton Wanderers

Newcastle United have signed Aston Villa striker Marlon Harewood on a three-month loan deal.

The 30-year-old is available for Saturday's Championship trip to Ipswich Town, and boss Chris Hughton hopes he can inject pace into his side.

"He's got a bit of experience and there's no doubt about the ability he has," he told BBC Newcastle.

"I felt we needed someone who can stretch teams a little bit, he'll add to what we've already got."

Villa signed Harewood from West Ham United for £4m in July 2007, but he has made only one league start for Martin O'Neill's side in that time.

Harewood's last appearance for the West Midlands club came against CSKA Moscow in February's Uefa Cup tie.

His first-team opportunities have been limited as a result of the impressive form of England duo Gabriel Agbonlahor and Emile Heskey.

He is also behind Norway international John Carew in the pecking order, while Villa have also benefitted from the emergence of Nathan Delfouneso.

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It was with Nottingham Forest that Harewood first made his mark, progressing through the club's academy ranks and making his debut in May 1998 against West Bromwich Albion as the club won the First Division championship.

His time with Forest yielded 181 league appearances and 51 goals, before West Ham United swooped to sign the striker for £500,000 in November 2003 after he had rejected a contract offer from the East Midlands club.

He won promotion to the Premier League with the Hammers at the second attempt, having reached two play-off finals in two years, and then helped the Hammers to an FA Cup final against Liverpool in 2006, scoring a semi-final winner against Uefa Cup finalists Middlesbrough at Villa Park.

Harewood scored six goals in his opening season at Villa Park but has struggled to make his mark since then.

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