Newcastle United loan exit confirmed by manager ahead of official announcement

St Johnstone manager Steven MacLean has confirmed he has signed Newcastle United youngster Jay Turner-Cooke on loan for the 2023-24 season.

Turner-Cooke has been one of the under-21 side’s rising stars over the last 12 months with the midfielder regularly called up to train with Eddie Howe’s first-team squad.

The 19-year-old underlined that progress by heavy involvement in the club’s pre-season, scoring in the summer opener - a 3-2 win over National League outfit Gateshead.

The former Sunderland boy spent the second half of last season on loan at League Two side Tranmere Rovers and will be looking to kick on north of the border with the Saints, who currently sit at the bottom of the 12-team Scottish top flight.

“Jay has been involved with the Newcastle first team in pre-season,” said MacLean. “He was in the squad against Rangers and got some game-time against Villareal. He’s got a really good pedigree and Newcastle have high hopes for him.

“He showed a real eagerness to come here. He’s hungry to come to Scotland and do well. Jay was with Tranmere for the second half of last season and played a dozen games or so, so he has a bit of first-team experience under his belt already.

“He is a box-to-box midfielder who can also play off the side as well, so he will add something to the squad. We’re happy to get him and hopefully he does well here.”

The move may raise some eyebrows among the Magpies’ faithful, particularly given Garang Kuol’s failed loan spell in the same division with Hearts last season.

Speaking after his pre-season goal at Gateshead’s International Stadium, Turner-Cooke underlined where he sees his playing future - and it seems to fit with St Johnstone boss Steven MacLean’s loan plan.

He said: “That’s what I wanted to do today - show people, show the manager what I can do. Thankfully I’ve come on and scored a goal and hopefully that will stand me in good stead.

“The goal was to go on and try and give the manager and his team something to think about, and I think we all did that, to be fair. I probably see myself more as a midfielder, like a 6. I love getting on the ball and making things happen. That’s what I want to do with any chance I get. Hopefully everyone has seen a bit of what I can do today, but there is so much more to come.”