Beye lost his passport while on holiday on the Caribbean island of St Bart's, and it looked like he would miss the start of pre-season.

But the 31-year-old finally arrived back on Tyneside late last night, having made a brief stop in Paris, and was back at the club's Benton HQ this morning for the first day of training.

And Beye has told of his "relief" at making the long journey in time.

"I am just glad to be back, and feel relieved to be back at work," said Beye.

"At one stage, I thought I wasn't going to leave the island, so it's just nice to be back.

"After all the travelling, I feel a little tired and jet-lagged, but I'm looking forward to seeing my team-mates again.

"I've been able to sort out a way of travelling, and I will be due back in Paris on Saturday to be best man at a wedding, which I also thought I was going to miss."

Beye – understood to be a transfer target of a clutch of clubs, including Sunderland and Stoke City – committed his future to United in the wake of their relegation from the Premier League.

Meanwhile, David Edgar has agreed a four-year contract with Burnley, and the Turf Moor club is now in talks with Newcastle over a compensation figure.