Newcastle United loan update: The progress of Fraser, Ashby, Hayden, Minteh and more

Newcastle United took a two-pronged approach to loan departures during the summer transfer window as Eddie Howe looked to move on a number of senior players that were surplus to requirements at St James Park.

However, several Magpies youngsters have also been offered an opportunity to earn valuable game-time at a senior level and take the next step in the development of their careers. Loan manager Shola Ameobi and assistant loan manager Peter Ramage have been clocking up the miles to assess the progress of United players spending the season elsewhere with the former Magpies stars visiting clubs across the EFL, Scotland and in Europe to take in the action.

With the midway point of their loans rapidly approaching, NewcastleWorld takes a look at the performances of those players spending time away from Tyneside this season.

Ryan Fraser - Southampton

The Scotland winger fell out of favour at St James Park last season and always seemed likely to be heading for the exit during the summer. A season-long loan move to Southampton was secured and Fraser initially took his time to settle into life on the south coast.

However, two winning goals in his last five appearances has led to talk of a permanent switch to the Saints as they look to regain their place in the Premier League at the first attempt.

Jamal Lewis - Watford

After struggling with injury for a large part of his time at Newcastle, the Northern Ireland international has looked to revitalise his career during a season-long loan at Championship club Watford. Lewis did not feature for the Hornets until mid-September but encouragingly has started their last nine consecutive league fixtures.

Kelland Watts - Wigan Athletic

The Magpies academy product is no short of temporary moves away from Tyneside in his career after spending time with the likes of Plymouth Argyle, Mansfield Town and Peterborough United in recent seasons. His latest move came with the second loan move to Wigan Athletic, two years after he first moved to the DW Stadium. Watts has made 13 appearances in all competitions for the League One club during the first three months of his season-long deal.

Joe White - Crewe Alexandra

Another academy product enjoying another away from St James Park after spending time at Hartlepool United and Exeter City over the last 18 months. Highly-rated midfielder White has made 14 appearances for the League Two club and scored his first goal for Alex in a 2-0 home win against Gillingham in October.

Yankuba Minteh - Feyenoord

The Gambian winger was Newcastle's first summer signing and was immediately sent on a season-long move to the Dutch champions - although there has been some talk he could return to Tyneside in January. Minteh has arguably been United's most successful loan of the season so far after impressing in the Eredivise and gaining game-time in the Champions League. The former Odense youngster has three goals and one assist in 12 appearances for Feyenoord - but is currently undergoing treatment on a hamstring injury.

Garang Kuol - FC Volendam

Kuol endured a difficult first loan spell away from Newcastle during the second half of last season as he struggled to make an impact with Hearts. But he has enjoyed a more productive spell in Holland by featuring in all but two of Volendam's 12 Eredivise games so far this season. A first goal came in a 3-1 defeat against Fortuna Sittard and Kuol also provided an assist for the only goal of a 1-0 win over FC Utrecht.

Isaac Hayden - Standard Liege

The long-serving midfielder still has two and a half years left on his contract at St James Park but is currently spending a season-long loan with Belgian side Standard Liege. Hayden has made eight appearances for his temporary employers as they sit in mid-table in the Jupiler League.

Rodrigo Vilca - Vozdovac

The Peruvian attacking midfielder has failed to make a breakthrough at Newcastle since he moved to Tyneside in October 2020. Loan spells with Doncaster Rovers and Universitario failed to ignite and improvement and the 24-year-old is now spending the final year of his Magpies deal with Serbian side Vozdovac. Vilca has made five substitute appearances and two starts so far this season.

Matty Bondswell - Newport County

Another player in the final year of his contract at Newcastle, Bondswell is spending the campaign with League Two club Newport County and has made 19 appearances in all competitions. However, just six of them have come as part of the Exiles starting eleven.

Jeff Hendrick - Sheffield Wednesday

It seems remarkable to think Hendrick is still officially a Newcastle player - although he will head into the final six months of his Magpies deal in the new year. Currently spending the season with Championship club Wednesday, the former Republic of Ireland international has made eight appearances in all competitions so far this season.

Harrison Ashby - Swansea City

The former West Ham United prospect joined the Magpies in January and made a handful of impressive appearances in the Under-21s and with the first-team during pre-season. Highly-rated within the St James Park hierarchy, Ashby was handed a chance to secure valuable senior experience at Swansea and has made 12 appearances for the Welsh outfit, scoring his first senior goal in a 2-1 defeat at Preston North End in August.

Max Thompson - Northampton Town

The highly-rated young keeper in enjoying the first loan spell of his career in League One and has made ten appearances in all competitions for the Cobblers, keeping three clean sheets over that time. His latest came in a 2-0 win against Burton Albion on Saturday as the Magpies academy man returned to the starting lineup after a run of nine games as an unused substitute.

Jay Turner-Cooke - St Johnstone

The former Tranmere Rovers loanee is currently spending the season with Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone. Turner-Cooke has made five appearances in all competitions so far but has not gained any game-time in his side's last three league fixtures.

Cameron Ferguson - Forfar Athletic

The son of former Magpies striker Duncan Ferguson is on loan in Scotland's fourth tier until January and managed to rack up his first senior goal in a 4-1 Scottish FA Cup win against Huntly in October. That remains his solitary strike in seven appearances in all competitions.