HE'S a very hard man to please - but Simon Cowell, television's 'Mr Nasty', had nothing but nice words to say about St. James' Park when he visited the stadium.

Simon dropped in at the home of Newcastle United to run the rule over crowds of would-be pop stars as the Milburn Stand was used to host auditions for the forthcoming series of ITV's 'The X Factor'.

Before leaving, the self-confessed Chelsea fan was presented with his very own personalised black and white shirt as a souvenir of his trip to Tyneside.

But the man who has scuppered many a budding hopeful's dreams of stardom with just one cutting remark was far more complimentary when it came to talking about St. James'.

"It's a really great stadium," said Simon. "I've had the chance to have a look down the tunnel and to see the pitch and I've loved it.

"The shirt is a very nice present, although I'm not sure I'll be wearing it down Stamford Bridge as I might get lynched!"

Simon wasn't the only person to leave St. James' with a new United home jersey, as they were also presented to fellow judges Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne, along with her rock star daughter Kelly who accompanied her to Newcastle, and presenter Kate Thornton.

Keen to avoid a family flashpoint, Sharon immediately asked for two more shirts, bearing the names of her rock legend husband Ozzy and son Jack, to keep the men of the Osbourne household happy when she returns home!

For Simon, the chance to soak up the surroundings of St. James' and pose for pictures holding his United shirt was probably only bettered by the knowledge his broadcasting pals and lifelong Magpies fans Ant and Dec would be jealous. "I'm here and they're not, so I guess that makes me a true supporter," he laughed with more than a hint of mischief.

And his final verdict? "I'd give the contestants a mark of 2.3 overall, but let's say 9.5 for St. James.'"

Newcastle supporters have known for some time the club boasts one of the finest stadiums in Europe. But now it's official - St James' really DOES have the X Factor.