Championship chasers

Congratulations to James Tavernier and Haris Vuckic, who are all set to strut their stuff at Wembley with Rotherham in the League 1 play-off final next Sunday. The Millers booked their appearance with a 4-2 aggregate win over Preston, Tavernier setting up the final goal of Thursday night's 3-1 second-leg victory. Vuckic only saw the last three minutes of normal time, so will be hoping to be more involved in the final.

Meanwhile, it's been confirmed that, as had been mooted though subject to a medical, Dan Gosling will join Bournemouth when his contract expires in July. When he arrived, we had high hopes, but four years on and only a handful of distinctly underwhelming appearances later, his departure is no great loss to anyone except the medical staff.

Greeks bearing gifts

Last year, it was Conor Newton and Paul Dummett (and very nearly Curtis Good); this year, the Toon loanee collecting a medal while his parent club's trophy cabinet continues to gather dust is Mehdi Abeid. Not that he was much help in Panathinaikos' 4-1 Greek Cup victory over PAOK - more of a hindrance, conceding the penalty from which PAOK scored.

Meanwhile, another forgotten man of the Newcastle squad, Romain Amalfitano, belatedly scored his first goal for Ligue 2 outfit Dijon. Pardon the groansome pun, but he doesn't appear to have cut the mustard back in his native country and will no doubt be high on our list of players to ship out in the summer.

Turning defence into attack

How typically Newcastle: the first team musters just a solitary goal in four games and yet a defender we've sent out on loan is pinging in matchwinning braces from distance. Saturday's victory over Bristol City all but mathematically guaranteed Rotherham a play-off place, and if our boy James Tavernier keeps on performing heroics they may yet sneak into the automatic promotion positions.

New deal for the real deal?

Congratulations to 17-year-old Academy prospect Adam Armstrong, who - alongside 'keeper Freddie Woodman and Slovak defender Lubo Satka - has earned himself a new long-term contract. The lively striker, who recently made his debut from the bench against Fulham and is currently competing for England U17s at the European Championships, commented: "The manager’s shown an interest in the young players which is really good" - perhaps out of necessity rather than choice, though, Adam...

As we celebrate one youngster on the fringes of the first team, we shouldn't forget another who has been there before and is now trying to force his way back into the frame through his loan exploits. Haris Vuckic may have been a stoppage-time sub for Rotherham last night, but there was still time on the clock for him to head the Millers' third against a shellshocked Brentford, the side currently sitting in second place in League Two. It should also be duly noted that fellow Toon loanee James Tavernier got the ball rolling for the Yorkshire side, winning the penalty from which Kieran Agard gave them an early lead.

The boy Den Good

Congratulations to Curtis Good, who can now boast as many full international caps as he can first-team appearances for Newcastle. The 20-year-old defender, currently on loan at Dundee Utd, made his debut for Australia on Wednesday night in a friendly fixture against Ecuador, putting in a performance that the Guardian's reporter rated as "solid" and lasting 66 minutes before succumbing to a hip injury.

While England toiled to an uninspiring 1-0 win over Denmark at Wembley, the game across London at the New Den served up splendid entertainment. Good's side led 3-0 at the break, but by the time our man was withdrawn, Ecuador had pulled two goals back, the second a spot kick after Aussie 'keeper Mitch Langerak was sent off. The South American side went on to equalise and then, three minutes into stoppage time, to grab a dramatic winner after Good's replacement Alex Wilkinson was guilty of giving the ball away.

The knock and the final result didn't seem to take much gloss off the evening for Good, who gushed: "You dream about it your whole life - it's the absolute highlight of my career. I felt so confident out there." It will serve as vital big-game experience - not least because his previous taste of such an occasion ended in acute disappointment, when he was hauled off at half-time as Bradford lost 5-0 to Swansea in last season's League Cup final. Hopes are high that Good might one day be ready to step into the first team - but let's not forget the sad case of another promising young foreign defender, Tamas Kadar, who failed to live up to his considerable potential and is now back in his native Hungary.

While Good was turning out for the Socceroos, Mathieu Debuchy was busy playing all but the final three minutes of France's 2-0 victory over the Netherlands. Loic Remy and Moussa Sissoko both also appeared, though only from the bench.

Elsewhere, Papiss Cisse and Mr T were on international duty for Senegal and Ivory Coast respectively - the latter mustering an impressive 2-2 draw in Brussels against a Belgian side many people (myself included) fancy to be a real force over the next few years, though the game was most notable for a staggering miss by Villa's Christian Benteke.

Finally, Fergie got a welcome reminder of what it's like to lace up his boots, enjoying a spell as a substitute as Northern Ireland laboured to a stalemate in Cyprus. Much as I like Lee Clark and want him to do well, it's baffling as to why he's excluding our winger from his Birmingham squad. Leaving him twiddling his thumbs on the sidelines is doing no one any favours.

Magpies help put Magpies to the sword

Paul's report on an, ahem, eventful match at the KC Stadium yesterday is to come, but in the meantime let's congratulate some of our loanees for enjoying unequivocally good afternoons.

At the New York Stadium, Rotherham racked up six goals without reply. James Tavernier and Haris Vuckic may be Magpies, but they showed little mercy towards birds of a feather Notts County. Tavernier opened the scoring with a classy free-kick, before Vuckic seized the opportunity afforded to him by a rare start, grabbing two goals (albeit both with the aid of considerable deflections).

There was also a goal for Conor Newton, who made the all-important breakthrough for St Mirren in their victory over Kilmarnock, but Shane Ferguson was again absent as Birmingham lost at Ipswich - not the ideal start to life without Terry Mac and Derek Fazackerley for Lee Clark.

Clark loses friends but influences people

Friday brought interesting news from Birmingham, Lee Clark's Championship strugglers having parted company with fellow former Toon employees Terry McDermott and Derek Fazackerley. The circumstances surrounding the pair's departure remain unclear, Clark insisting they hadn't been sacked but claiming to be unable to add any further information "for legal reasons". The Blues are currently such a basket-case of a club that one wonders if they've been released as part of a cost-cutting drive.

Clark can still count on the assistance of another ex-Newcastle man, his former team-mate Steve Watson, in the role of first-team coach, but no longer appears to have any time for the player he currently has on loan from St James' Park. Fergie was once again missing from the squad on Saturday, but given that Clark inspired them to a 2-1 victory at freefalling Blackpool, it seems unlikely he'll be back in favour soon. A real shame, especially in view of the positive loan experiences of players like James Tavernier and Conor Newton, both of whom have been able to enhance their claims for involvement with the first team on their return to Tyneside.

Tav misses out

Commiserations to James Tavernier for losing out to Peterborough's Nicky Ajose for the League One Player of the Month award for January - though congratulations are due, of course, for being nominated in the first place. The nomination only goes to confirm what we've been hearing from Rotherham fans - that the full-back is in fine form, having established himself as an integral part of the Millers' promotion-pushing team, and that he might well be capable of coping at Championship level or even higher. The extension of his loan deal means he has the rest of the season to continue to impress. It would just be nice if Haris Vuckic could follow his lead...

Good news for Dundee Utd

Lest the club should be accused of inactivity on the final day of the transfer window, I should point out that something did happen: Curtis Good joined Dundee Utd on loan. The Australian defender has followed young reserve colleagues Conor Newton and Adam Campbell in signing up for a temporary spell north of the border. He's only featured for us once since signing in the summer of 2012, in the League Cup fixture at Morecambe earlier this season, so it's hardly surprising he's jumped at the chance to gain some first-team experience.

Meanwhile, the loans of James Tavernier and Haris Vuckic to Rotherham have been extended to the end of the season - understandable and expected, as it was a no-brainer from the perspective of both clubs and both players.

Loanees making their mark

It was almost as if they'd read Michael's comments and were determined to prove him right. On Saturday, while Haris Vuckic was left kicking his heels on the bench for all but the final eight minutes, James Tavernier was an integral part of the promotion-chasing Rotherham side that handed Shrewsbury a sixth successive home defeat with three goals in the first 21 minutes. Tavernier might be a defender, but he set up the Millers' opener for fellow loanee Tom Hitchcock before scoring the third goal himself, against another club for whom he's turned out on loan.

Curiously enough, it was much the same story north of the border, where Adam Campbell also claimed a goal and an assist for St Mirren, before appearing somewhat fortunate to get away with a penalty-box handball that would have gifted Hibs the chance to level the game after being three goals down. Our other Buddies loanee Conor Newton played the full 90 minutes, and had a hand in Campbell's goal.

Progress report

High time we checked in on Rotherham to see how our two loanees James Tavernier and Haris Vuckic are getting on there - here's Millers fan Michael Stevens with his verdict:

"Tavernier has been excellent. He looks like an upper Championship/ lower Premier League player. He can defend, has a rocket of a shot and goes past people at will.

Vuckic, in my view, has been really poor. For all but one game, he has been 'on his heels'. He is painfully slow, very easily shoved off the ball and doesn't move or anticipate passes. Due to a lack of movement, he offers little threat, regardless of his obvious talent. His effort levels have been very low. He doesn't appear to challenge physically or aerially, which is criminal at lower league level. He does possess exquisite touch and a good shot, but it feels like we're playing with ten men. I can only assume he is best in midfield. Up front, he just seems sluggish to me."

Very interesting, I think you'll agree. Of the two, it's definitely Vuckic of whom we have the highest hopes, so it's concerning to hear that he's proving such a flop even in the third tier. The Slovenian has shown flashes of promise for us, even briefly breaking into the first team a couple of seasons ago (admittedly partly due to the unavailability of others), but has often been thwarted by injury. Michael's right in suggesting his best position isn't as a striker - he's more of a playmaker who needs to operate centrally rather than out wide, but then represents a risk because his lack of strength and tackling ability leaves the central midfield dangerously light.

Tavernier, on the other hand, has not really been regarded as a player destined for the Newcastle first team, so it's encouraging to hear that he might yet provide useful back-up to Mathieu Debuchy.

Thanks to Michael for his thoughts.

Campbell's souper for St Mirren

On 2nd January Adam Campbell will be the latest Newcastle player to hook up with St Mirren - a loan move first mooted way back in September, after the striker had returned from a frustrating and abortive spell at Carlisle. In buddying up with the Buddies, Campbell will be following in the footsteps of Paul Dummett and Conor Newton - the latter having headed back to St Mirren Park this season after a stint there last year.

It wasn't that long ago that Campbell found himself on the fringes of the first-team squad, but that was partly because, with Loic Remy only a loanee, he's one of only three out-and-out strikers we own (alongside Papiss Cisse and Big Lad). Even if he does manage to make his mark north of the border, I suspect we'd be keener to sign a striker than to throw him into the fray.

Lucky Jim

Last week I suggested that James Tavernier and Haris Vuckic needed to seize the opportunity of their loan move to Rotherham with both hands. While Vuckic was restricted in his attempts to do so against Gillingham by the fact that he was only given seven minutes as a sub, Tavernier certainly did just that, scoring the fourth and final goal in a comprehensive victory and thereby making himself slightly more prominent in the January shop window display.

New York, New York

That's the New York Stadium rather than the Big Apple, the temporary home for Toon youngsters James Tavernier and Haris Vuckic, who have both signed on loan for League One outfit Rotherham until 2nd January. Much as it pains me to see us help out that odious oaf Steve Evans in his attempt to get the Millers promoted to the Championship, it'll be useful game time for the duo. The progress of both players appears to have stalled, Vuckic in particular having flattered to deceive, and I'd suggest that they need to seize this opportunity with both hands if they want to have any future at their parent club.

Dan dares

The crowd at Bloomfield Road were treated to a rare sight yesterday: a goal from loanee Dan Gosling. His long-range effort in the first half was slightly lucky to find the back of the net and restore home side Blackpool's lead. It would have been the winner, too - had it not been for Gosling's team-mate Steve Davies contriving to score an own goal in the last minute.

As we've said before, good performances for his loan side are unlikely to earn him a reprieve on Tyneside, but will at least further his chances of getting a decent move.

Gosling flies the nest

Despite our disappointing start to the campaign, it's to no one's great surprise that one of the few stars of our pre-season, Dan Gosling, hasn't had a look-in. It makes sense, then, for him to have been allowed to join short-staffed Blackpool, who were until recently perched somewhat unexpectedly at the Championship's summit. Whether he can help the Tangerines to regain top spot remains to be seen, but it's clear he has no future on Tyneside so he might as well seize the opportunity to put himself in the shop window. And you never know - the loan might help grease the wheels of a deal for Tom Ince in January...

The outsiders

Saturday's substitute appearance wasn't enough to get Dreamboat a place in the French squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers - an omission which came as a "shock" to the player, according to the Silver Fox, who is planning on using the down time to hold clear-the-air talks with the midfielder and his representatives. With any luck, he'll realise he can't now leave until January anyway, so he might as well start putting in the sort of effort and performances that might merit a big-money move away from Tyneside.

Meanwhile, our 25-man Premier League squad was announced yesterday. We can adjust it again in January, but until then there's no room for loanees Shane Ferguson, Conor Newton and Romain Amalfitano. While the latter two are no great loss, it is something of a surprise that Ferguson - who has at times looked close to breaking into the first team and gives us a useful option wide on the left - has been omitted in favour of Raylor, who is widely expected to be out for the whole season. Unless the Silver Fox knows something that we don't...

Keen as mustard

No sooner has his big brother pitched up in England than Romain Amalfitano has decided to flit back across the channel, signing on loan for Dijon. This league ain't big enough for the both of them? Not really - Jr has never even come close to threatening to break into the first team. A shame that it's au revoir rather than adieu - unless he somehow manages to impress during his sojourn back home.

The boyo done good

Setting transfer window issues aside, congratulations to Paul Dummett, whose elevation to the Newcastle first-team squad has resulted in a similar elevation to the senior Welsh squad for the forthcoming international fixtures. Whether he makes his bow alongside the world's most expensive player remains to be seen.

Fellow left-sided player Shane Ferguson has been enduring a tougher time at Birmingham. Despite creating the opening goal for Matt Green with a delicious cross in the 3-2 defeat at Leicester, the Northern Irishman was dropped to the bench for Saturday's visit of Ipswich. Blues appear to have continued last season's form, much to Lee Clark's dismay, and the picture is even less rosy off the pitch, as detailed in a recent post on The Two Unfortunates.

Meanwhile, Mehdi Abeid scored a somewhat fortuitous goal for his loan club Panathanaikos at the weekend. Scoring is something that Adam Campbell wasn't given the opportunity to do on loan in Cumbria - he's already back on Tyneside, a clearly disgruntled Silver Fox commenting "That didn’t work out at Carlisle, and he won’t be going back there". He may only be back temporarily, though, with a move to hook up with Conor Newton at St Mirren a possibility.

Steve Davis may have talked up Brad Inman's future, but his recent past at Crewe has been far from encouraging. He played for 21 minutes off the bench as the Railwaymen lost to League One leaders Leyton Orient, and was then handed a start for the trip to Swindon last weekend - only for the home side to romp to a 5-0 victory. The identity of the Robins' first scorer? Inman's former club colleague the Lone Ranger.

On the subject of familiar faces, the Reserves were beaten 5-4 by West Ham yesterday, despite taking a three-goal lead through a Jonathyn Quinn hat-trick. You ain't seen nothing like the mighty Quinn? Well, the Hammers had - one Elliot Lee, who grabbed a hat-trick of his own, two goals coming from the spot. The onlooker with conflicted loyalties? That would be his dad, Rob Lee.

Unlucky Jim

It isn't just the first team whose season has got off to a shocker, it seems. James Tavernier's loan spell at Shrewsbury looks to have lasted for just two games, with the full-back now set to undergo surgery for a metatarsal injury.

With the long-term absence of Raylor, the injuries for Massadio Haidara and Davide Santon, and now the suspension of Steven Taylor, Tavernier might have found himself back on Tyneside sooner than expected anyway, called upon to provide defensive cover. It's a shame, then, that we're deprived of that option.