Newcastle United set to open contract talks with player they’ve only recently signed

Newcastle United are set to hold contract talks with Loris Karius - with Eddie Howe open to keeping the former Liverpool goalkeeper beyond January.

The 29-year-old signed a short-term deal at St James’ Park in September as a replacement for Karl Darlow, who injured his ankle in training.

Darlow’s return last month means Karius is now third choice behind the former Nottingham Forest man and Nick Pope but Howe has seen enough qualities to want to keep him in the squad.

Karius is understood to have improved significantly simply through regular training time, a luxury he didn’t necessarily have during the latter stages of his Liverpool career.

The German has also fitted into the dynamics of the dressing room just by supporting his teammates, particularly the goalkeeper union.

Karius is yet to feature for Newcastle but that could change in this evening’s friendly against Al-Hilal (kick-off 5pm GMT) with Pope at the World Cup with England.

Depending on what Howe chooses to do, the Magpies head coach could hand minutes to Darlow and Karius. Mark Gillespie is also in Riyadh but is unlikely to play having been left out of the club’s 25-man Premier League squad.

Gillespie, a boyhood Newcastle fan, is out-of-contract at the end of the season.