Newcastle United are reportedly keeping tabs on Scottish wonderkid Cole McKinnon.

The Magpies have sent scouts to watch the Rangers midfielder this season, as he spends a season-long loan at second tier Partick Thistle, according to the Scottish Sun.

George Walters of Manchester United and Cole McKinnon of Rangers compete for the ball during the Super Cup NI football tournament junior section game between Manchester United and Rangers on July 24, 2018 in Ballymena, Northern Ireland.

As part of the club’s summer recruitment drive, United paid transfer fees to land the likes of Alex Murphy from Galway United to add to their youth ranks. They also raided Kilmarnock and East Fife for Charlie McArthur and Jude Smith, while narrowly missing out on Southampton’s Tyler Dibling.

And it appears any move for McKinnon would be along similar lines.

The 19-year-old is highly-rated by the Gers, who sent him out for a second loan this campaign, after a successful one with East Fife last season. It is thought the player is being seen as someone who can return to Ibrox next summer and challenge for a place in Gio van Bronckhorst’s first-team squad.

McKinnon, who scored on his full Rangers debut against Hearts last season, only signed a new deal earlier this summer. That runs until 2025.

He scored in Thistle’s 2-0 win at Arbroath last weekend.

Newcastle United keeping tabs on Rangers wonderkid as they eye January transfer raid