Newcastle United confirm double departure as January transfer business gathers pace

Newcastle United defender Kelland Watts will remain on loan at League One club Peterborough United for the remainder of the season.

The highly-rated centre-back has already enjoyed some productive temporary moves away from Tyneside during the early part of his career after impressing in the colours of Wigan Athletic, Mansfield Town and Plymouth Argyle over the last three seasons.

He agreed to join Peterborough until January on the final day of the summer transfer window but had to wait to make his Posh debut after suffering a knee injury during the Magpies pre-season training camp in Austria.

Speaking at the time, then-Posh manager said Grant McCann: “He has a really good pedigree and is an excellent defender. The only downside to it is that he is currently injured, it might take him three or four weeks to get back and available for selection, but we wanted to wait for him. We had other options that we were exploring, but he was top of the list and we were prepared to wait because of how good a player he is.”

The extension of Watts’ deal at London Road comes in the aftermath of McCann’s departure after he parted company with the League One club earlier this week. Darren Ferguson has already been named as his successor as he returned to the position for a fourth time and he will take charge of the first game of his latest spell when his side visit Port Vale on Monday week.

Watts will hope to add to the seven appearances he has made during his initial loan spell with the Posh and aid their push for a play-off place during the remainder of the season.

The centre-back was not the only loan departure from St James Park on Friday as young midfielder Joe White completed a temporary switch to Exeter City.

The 20-year-old is yet to make a senior competitive debut for the Magpies but has been a regular in the Magpies Under-21 side and appeared in last month’s friendly win against Saudi club Al Hilal. The move marks the second loan spell of White’s career after he made 16 appearances for League Two club Hartlepool United last season. The United youngster could make his Grecians debut when they host bottom of the table Forest Green Rovers on Saturday week.

It is expected a number of other Magpies youngsters will secure loan moves over the coming weeks with the recently-arrived Garang Kuol holding face-to-face talks with Scottish club Hearts. Goalkeeper Dan Langley has already completed a move to National League North club Spennymoor Town after cutting short a similar spell at Gateshead.