Newcastle United remain active in loan market

Newcastle United have already been active in this season's loan market and they have continued to be so over the past week.  Already having loaned Sammy Ameobi (Cardiff City), Adam Armstrong (Coventry City), Haris Vuckic (Wigan Athletic), Alex Gilliead and Macaulay Gillesphey (Carlisle United), Shane Ferguson (Milwall), and Mike Williamson (Wolves), the club has now sent two more players out to gain first team experience while extending an existing loan.

Joining the raft of loaned players is Gaël Bigirimana and Ivan Toney.  Bigi has been loaned back to former club Coventry City, the club with whom he caught the eyes of Newcastle several years back.  Unable to grab a spot in what seemed like an open competition for midfield roles under new boss Steve McClaren, it will doubtlessly be hoped that the Burundi international (who had a corner for the Burundi national squad turned in for an own-goal against Chancel Mbemba's Congo) will find the same degree of success that Adam Armstrong has found at the Ricoh Arena.  If he is unable to make any headway, however, it could be curtains on another promising midfield talent trying to make his way through the Newcastle Academy.

On the other end of the spectrum lies Ivan Toney.  Newcastle's "under the radar" pickup over the summer transfer window from Northampton Town has not taken long to settle in, starring already for the reserves with goals and assists.  Toney has been loaned to Barnsley in League One and has made two appearances already though he has yet to break through on the scoresheet for the Tykes.  If the 19 year-old can duplicate the performances of 18 year-old Adam Armstrong, it would set dreams of the future at St. James' Park running wild.

Mike Williamson has also been extended through late January at Wolves, where he has helped keep two clean sheets in three appearances.  This weekend also brought suggestions that, had he not succumbed to yet anther injury, Rolando Aarons would also have joined the players who have been loaned out.  Although it could be considered frustrating that a talent who impressed so at the beginning of last season (again curtailed by injury) would be loaned, the relative success of Newcastle loanees in actually finding the pitch is encouraging and one can easily see the benefit of getting Aarons some consistent first team action.

Given how little Newcastle loan players have played in the past couple of seasons, it is very encouraging to see these players not only garnering playing time, but largely succeeding while doing so.