And the former England international is delighted to be playing again.

"I've been missing football and this is a great opportunity for me," said Gascoigne.

Club officials said the former England international had agreed a one-year deal with the B-League's bottom team on Sunday.

No details of his contract were released but reports indicated he could earn �400,000 from his move to the desert province.

Gansu Tianma general manager Zhong Bohong said on Monday: "We picked him because he's a real professional football player.

We noticed he has two shortcomings; one is his physical fitness, another is leg strength Zhong Bohong Gansu Tianma general manager

"He has a good sense of the game. He has good skills and experience, especially in the big matches.

"We think he could play a key role in the team. We'd like him to be the spiritual leader of the team," Zhong added.

As well as playing for the team, Gascoigne is understood to be taking on an assistant coaching role and acting as a consultant to the club's academy.

Now 35, the former Newcastle, Spurs, Lazio, Rangers and Everton midfielder flew to China earlier this month in the hope of reviving his fading career.

He trained with first division side Liaoning Bodao, but was not offered a contract after failing to impress.

Chinese press reports described his performance in a friendly as "weak and clumsy".

And his new employers know they will not be getting Gazza in his prime.

"We noticed he has two shortcomings; one is his physical fitness, another is leg strength," Zhong said.

"It's fine if he can play the whole match. If he cannot, we can let him play half of a match, or 30 minutes, even 15 minutes, only if he can steady the morale of the team."