Newcastle United's Top 10 Premier League Signings.

As a follow up to one of my previous articles entitled, Newcastle United's top 10 Premier League flops, here I take a more positive view on the Toon's transfer record over the last 15 years.

As one of the Premier League's most influential clubs, Newcastle have always been amongst the biggest spenders in the transfer market in the pursuit of success.

Seven managers have led a foray into the minefield that is the modern day transfer market. Keegan, Dalglish, Gullit, Robson, Souness, Roeder and Allardyce all trying their bartering skills with the hope of hitting on the right formula. One could argue none made a success of it considering our lack of silverware to date.

Here is my personal top 10 hits based on my own view having watched each player countless times in action, I list my choices in countdown order from #10 to #1.

This was a real hard choice, and I have no room for some real top players who I couldn't quite squeeze in.

I also have not taken into account the sell on fee for certain players as it is quite irrelevant how much we got for them once their career took a downward spiral.

10. Les Ferdinand. An absolute legend on Tyneside "Sir Les" made 81 appearances scoring 50 goals wearing the famous black and white stripes. A £6m signing from Q.P.R. by Keegan he was eventually sold on to Spurs by Kenny Dalglish.

9. Andy Cole. Cole the Goal was bought from Bristol City for £1.75m, he earlier had a brief spell at Arsenal where he was released having failed to make an impact.

83 appearances and 68 goals is a remarkable return for any striker he was a real predator scoring 93% of his goals from inside the penalty area during his time on Tyneside, he was sold by Keegan to Man Utd with Keith Gillespie coming as a part exchange in a deal that rocked the Premiership.

8. Obafemi Martins. A £10m purchase from Inter Milan, Oba is one of the most exiting prospects in the league today. A pacy powerful, tricky forward he can play anywhere along the front line.

He has hit double figures again this season and is in possession of one of the most ferocious shots in football. Has only been at the club for two years but is already a fans favorite and has many chapters yet to write in his Toon career.

7. Michael Owen. 39 appearances in three years is the reason why the club record £16m buy from Real Madrid is as low down on my list. The only reason may I add as 19 goals in that brief time on the pitch shows he is still one of the worlds most feared strikers.

I hope and pray that Michael can stay injury free and continue to lead the club forward in his new found role sitting in behind the main striker. Recently made captain by Keegan he has been in inspired form of late and long may it continue.

6. Gary Speed. 276 appearances, Speedo was signed by Dalglish from Everton for £5.5m in February 1998. A long serving general in midfield he currently holds the record for most Premier league appearances, a true professional and honest hard-working individual, his presence was long missed at the heart of Newcastle's midfield. He also weighed in with 40 goals.

5. Robert Lee. Keegan famously persuaded Lee to join Newcastle instead of Boro by telling him that Newcastle was closer to London than Middlesborough. Lee eventually put pen to paper in a £700,000 deal and went on to record 368 apps for Toon as well as breaking into the England set-up.

A career that lasted 10 years, he was a real fans favorite and a consistent performer. He fell foul of Ruud Gullit though who dropped him from not only the first team but wouldn't even select him for the reserves.

4. Nolberto Solano. A player described by Diego Maradona as "the little genius," Nobby was a fantastic bargain from Boca Juniors at £2.5m. A flamboyant Latino from Peru, Solano had two spells at the club making 247 apps scoring 44 goals, goodness knows how many assists he made in that time.

His passion for the trumpet and jazz music never distracted from his commitment to NUFC, he eventually moved to West Ham due to family problems otherwise he would have almost certainly seen his playing career out on Tyneside.

3. Shay Given. If this selection was based on value for money, Shay would have been a clear number one. A free transfer from Blackburn, Given has been one of the best keepers in the league consistently over the last decade.

He famously went three seasons in goal for Newcastle never missing a Premier League game, how frustrating that must have been for Stevie Harper, one can only guess. A Republic of Ireland international, Given has been a great servant to NUFC, twice winning the fans player of the year award.

2. Peter Beardsley. Wow! In all my time watching football, I have still never seen a player as naturally gifted as Beardo. Every time the ball arrived at his feet you just knew something special was going to happen and invariably it did.

A Geordie lad, he spent his early days at Carlisle Utd before a brief spell at Man Utd, he then moved to Vancouver Whitecaps before coming back to play for Newcastle in the early 1980s. A truly, special, special player in two spells at the club he made a whopping 320 apps scoring 119 goals.

My dad played against him in an amateur match and Beardsley scored 9 goals in a 12-0 drubbing. Classic!

1. Alan Shearer. A true local hero, Shearer was the most sought after player in world football when he signed for his hometown club Newcastle in July 1996 in a then world-record deal of £15m.

He resisted the courtship of Alex Ferguson and Manchester Utd to return home to his spiritual home on the banks of the Tyne and went on to break "Wor Jackie's" goalscoring record at Newcastle finishing on 206 goals in 345 apps for the Toon.

A real living legend in the modern game, the question will always remain, has Newcastle seen the last of Alan Shearer? I would guess that we haven't and he will eventualy return as manager one day, once the club is set on a sound footing.

My opinion: That is why Keegan was appointed manager, to get the club stable again and set on good foundations.

Again this is only my personal opinion and many people will disagree. There are lots of players that nearly made my list, so come on then, let's see if they are the same as yours.