PETER Lovenkrands says he would “love” to be Newcastle United’s first summer signing – and has apologised to the club’s fans for their humiliating relegation.

Despite joining the club when it was deep in turmoil, the Danish winger made a decent impact in the last five months of the season and enjoyed his stay at the club.

He scored crucial goals in the victories against Middlesbrough and West Brom – but it wasn’t enough to keep United in the top flight.

His agent Ivan Marko Benes was quoted in the aftermath of relegation as saying that Lovenkrands would now be seeking a Premier League club – but the player himself insists that is not the case.

The 29-year-old told The Journal that Newcastle remains his preferred destination and he would love to link up with Alan Shearer and play a part in the rebuilding efforts at United.

Shearer’s situation remains clouded in mystery with no resolution expected until the end of the week, but Lovenkrands believes that if Newcastle’s all-time top scorer is given the role, he will turn things around.

Unbelievably, Shearer was the third manager that Lovenkrands worked with in just four months on Tyneside. But that uncertainty has not put him off the prospect of signing a long-term deal with the Championship-bound club.

“I would love to be at Newcastle United again next season,” he said.

“I know that things are up in the air with the gaffer and no one has said anything to me yet, but if the chance was there then I would take it.