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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.