Newcastle United boss Sam Allardyce says Nicky Butt is a key part of his plans.
"He has trawled himself through a traumatic time and come out the other end with flying colours. He has now finally laid to rest the disappointment of leaving Manchester United.
"I think that was probably the ultimate problem for him here to begin with.
"Boy and man he was brought up at one of the greatest football clubs in the world. It must be a great wrench in your life when you lose that, and that is something he has overcome.
"His frustration in the end was that Sir Alex Ferguson couldn't give him as many games as he wanted. Like everyone else, he found he was dispensable.
"Gladly, he has overcome that, and I can give him a platform to be as successful at Newcastle as he was at Old Trafford."
