He said: “I came back from Malaysia on Sunday and that’s when I first got my head round the fact I was moving on.
“Once you go away on pre-season and don’t play, you get the feeling it’s time to move on.
“If a club accepts a bid, you have to ask yourself if you’re going to get the chance to go out and perform.
“I don’t think I ever got a chance at United. There were times when I played well but I was still left out.
“But after speaking to Sam Allardyce my decision was made.
“I was impressed with what he said he wanted to achieve and everything he wants to put into place.
“He wants to give the Newcastle players and the club the best opportunity to win something. He wanted me to be part of that.”
