Argentina midfielder Jonas Gutierrez has been sent on loan to Norwich for the rest of the season after losing his starting place at fellow Premier League side Newcastle.

The 30-year-old Gutierrez last played for Newcastle on October 5 against Cardiff, one of only two appearances in the first team this season.

Gutierrez says "it is an opportunity for me to get back in the game."

He joined Newcastle in 2008 from Spanish side Real Mallorca and played under Chris Hughton, the current Norwich manager, at St. James' Park between June 2009 and December 2010.

Hughton says Gutierrez has "been in England for five years, so there won't be that settling-in period that you would have with some other players. That's important."

Norwich are two points above the relegation zone.