SHEFKI Kuqi’s shock arrival at Newcastle United has once more seen the Toon Army become the butt of footballing jokes – a man who knows him well though insists his old Ewood Park pals will not be taking him lightly.

Selling Andy Carroll for £35m to Liverpool and bringing in a 34-year-old Kuqi in his place has raised a few eyebrows, not least among a bewildered Geordie faithful.

Kuqi, renowned for his belly flop celebrations, had been a free agent since being released by Swansea last month following a journeyman last few seasons at the likes of Crystal Palace, Fulham and Derby.

Blackburn Rovers fans will remember the Finn for the seven goals he scored to help Mark Hughes’ men finish sixth in the Premier League in 2005/06 and qualify for the UEFA Cup – and former Ewood team-mate Micky Gray believes he could yet roll back the years.

Kuqi is expected to be on the substitutes’ bench for tomorrow’s trip to Ewood Park and, while most of the country may already be writing him off as a Toon flop, Gray believes it could yet prove astute business from Alan Pardew.

His former Rovers team-mates Ryan Nelsen, Brett Emerton and Morten Gamst Pedersen all remain at Ewood and Gray is adamant their experiences of the striker will keep them on the guard tomorrow.

Gray said: “Shefki did a great job that season for Blackburn Rovers.

“He would come off the bench and change games for us, because he was a big powerful lad.

“He would be a real handful and mess the centre halves up.

“He played a big part in getting us into the UEFA Cup that season.

“Of course Ryan Nelsen will know him very well.

“He will know he won’t be in for easy afternoon if Shefki is involved.

“He is target man and so doesn’t need that much pace. He will still be capable of putting himself about.

“Having said that, I have watched Ryan over the last couple of weeks and he has been fantastic, so I’m sure he can cope with him.”

Kuqi became something of a cult hero at Rovers after arriving from Ipswich in 2005 on a free transfer.

He scored seven goals in 35 appearances for the club, including a memorable display in a 4-3 win over Manchester United, before Crystal Palace bought him for £2.5m the following summer.

“Of course I was surprised when I heard Newcastle had signed him,” said Gray. “But he is one those who was available and if you think about it, the move makes sense.

“He is a similar type of player to Andy Carroll and will add that presence that perhaps they are lacking now. He can also have an effect off the pitch. He was a big character at Blackburn.”

Gray has worked as a pundit since quitting the game at the end of last season following Sheffield Wednesday’s relegation, and the 36-year-old still keeps a close eye on Rovers’ fortunes.

He said: “I have heard a lot of very good things about the lad from Barcelona, Ruben Rochina.

“It is too early to judge the new owners at the moment. They seem to be learning quickly and things have settled down in the last few weeks.”