The former Liverpool stopper signed a four-year deal earlier in the week, with manager Steve Bruce saying he "could not be more pleased" that Kirkland had committed.

Bruce is keen to keep other star players at the club as he looks to built on last season's 14th place finish.

Kirkland said: "Hopefully me signing this deal might encourage others to stay. I can't speak for the other lads.

"But I want to be part of this team, this squad and this club. They wanted me to stay and I'm delighted to do that.

"I wouldn't have stayed if I didn't believe in the manager, his coaching staff and the set-up here, so obviously I do believe in them.

our aim

"Hopefully more of the lads will stay and if the gaffer can get a couple more players in this summer too, we should be okay.

"Only time will tell if we can make progress. The league gets tougher every year, but our aim is to push higher up the table."

He added: "I had a year left on my contract and I could have run it down and gone for free next summer.

"But I like it here, my family are settled in the area, and I never wanted to leave.

"The club was more than willing to extend the contract - my agent had an hour's meeting with them last week to get it sorted out.

"He said there was no trouble at all during the negotiations. The club have been great to deal with from day one."