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His new manager Alan Pardew said of his new signing after the draw at Watford: "Andy is a class player. He linked us up in that last 20 minutes and that was a real boost. Chris Iwelumo did a great job for us, but Andy gives us something different, and I'm very pleased to have him. We've now got a very strong team."
He added: "The loss of Svetoslav Todorov has been massive for us, particularly at home where we lost that link between midfield and attack. I think we'd be five points better off if he'd been fit, so now we've got Andy we've got no excuse."
Gray said: "I'm at the stage of my career where the chance to go to a club that had been in the Premier League for a long time, and has a great chance of getting back there, couldn't be ignored," he said. Everyone wants to play in the Premier League, it's where I want to play, and hopefully I can help the club get there." He added: "Hopefully I can bring some goals. I will hold the ball up, bring players into the game and hopefully my experience will help the club as well. I was obviously here in December and The Valley is a fantastic stadium and a great place to play. To be playing there every week is something I'm really looking forward to."