'Done' - Newcastle United winger makes brutal admission over future after FA Cup heroics

Newcastle United outcast Ryan Fraser has set his sights on helping Southampton return to the Premier League after admitted his time as a Magpie is over. There were high hopes for the Scotland winger after he moved to St. James' Park on a free transfer during the summer of 2020 as then-Magpies manager Steve Bruce looked to reunited Fraser with former Bournemouth team-mate Callum Wilson.

The duo combined for 23 goals and 25 assists during their penultimate season at the Vitality Stadium and Fraser expressed his desire to make a similar impact after he was persuaded to join the England striker on Tyneside.

Hopes were further raised when former Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe succeeded Bruce in November 2021 but after enjoying a brief resurgence during the second half of the campaign, Fraser found game-time hard to come by during the following season as a new-look Magpies side qualified for the Champions League and reached a first major cup final in 24 years.

Howe admitted Fraser was unlikely to force his way into the Magpies squad during the summer and the winger was allowed to join Championship club Southampton on a season-long loan as the Saints aimed to bounce back from relegation into the second tier at the first attempt.

After taking his time to find his feet on the south coast, Fraser hit a brace in the Saints FA Cup win against Walsall and has now scored four goals and provided two assists in his last six appearances for Russell Martin’s side. Speaking after the win, the winger revealed he is looking to move on from an underwhelming spell with Newcastle by helping the Saints back into the Premier League.

“I think my time at Newcastle is done now," Fraser told the Daily Echo.

“I don’t think you get put out on loan if there is a chance of you going back. The second half of last season was tough as we have all seen. Coming here was about helping the team in any way that I could. That has been coming off the bench and making an impact in games. It’s such a good feeling to help the team.

“Promotion is the first thing on my mind, but hopefully I have a good end to the season and the club want to keep me. Every time I step onto the pitch or into Staplewood, I need to give myself the best opportunity because there is no place I want to be other than Southampton next season.” Fraser will be back in action on Saturday afternoon when the Saints host ever improving Sheffield Wednesday at St Mary’s Stadium.