It was a busy festive period for Newcastle United’s loan stars as a host of Magpies continue their development away from St James’ Park.
A total of eight United players have left the club on a temporary basis, with five of those players in action over the past week.
Alex Gilliead and Sean Longstaff got on the scoresheet for Bradford and Blackpool respectively, while the futures of Gilliead and Armstrong are now up in the air - with the pair due to return to Tyneside this week.
Here is a full round-up of how Newcastle United’s loan stars got on over the past week.
Alex Gilliead
Gilliead rounded off Bradford’s festive schedule with a goal in their vital 2-1 win at Fleetwood.
The young winger lashed home City’s equaliser in the second half, driving a low effort from the edge of the area beyond Fleetwood keeper Chris Neal.
The win saw the Bantams remain in the play-off places, following on from a 3-1 defeat to Peterborough and a 3-2 win at Oxford - with Gilliead playing a part in both of those games.
Gilliead has now officially come to the end of his loan spell with Bradford and he has a decision to make regarding his future.
The Bantams would like to extend his deal until the end of the season, but there is reported interest from Championship clubs as well.
The 21-year-old’s current deal at Newcastle expires at the end of this season.
Sean Longstaff
The young midfielder impressed over the festive period for Blackpool, bagging a goal on Boxing Day.
The 20-year-old played the full match in all three of the Tangerines’ games, and continued his impressive season by bagging his sixth goal of the campaign in a 3-2 defeat against Scunthorpe.
Longstaff calmly controlled the ball on the edge of the area, before drilling a left-footed effort low into the bottom corner.
Blackpool drew 2-2 with Plymouth, before securing a 2-1 win against Rochdale on New Year’s Day to remain comfortably in mid-table.
Longstaff’s loan spell officially runs out on Saturday after Blackpool’s League One clash with Oxford.
The youngster’s current deal at Newcastle runs out at the end of this season, and the midfielder is keen to remain on loan - whether at Blackpool or elsewhere - to do enough to earn a new deal on Tyneside.
Adam Armstrong
Armstrong was used just once over the festive period, as Bolton secured two wins that lifted them out of the Championship relegation zone.
The young forward was brought on as a second half substitute in the Trotters’ away win at Sheffield United, but his time at Bolton looks like it has reached its end.
The 20-year-old has been used as a left-winger - rather than a forward - and has only scored three times this term.
His loan spell has now officially ended and he is set to move on with clubs from League One and Scotland interested in him.
Armstrong - who won the World Cup with England under-20s - still has two-and-half years remaining on his current Newcastle deal and will hope to rediscover the form which saw him score 20 times for Coventry during the 2015/16 season.
Matz Sels
The Belgian keeper played the full 90 minutes on Boxing Day as Anderlecht beat his old side Gent 1-0.
The victory meant that the Belgian champions ended the year on top of the Belgian Jupiler League.
Ivan Toney
Toney made three consecutive substitute appearances as he helped Wigan maintain their place at the top of League One.
The Latics recorded successive 0-0 draws against Shrewsbury and Charlton before beating Northampton 1-0 on New Year’s Day.
Unused
Achraf Lazaar (BENEVENTO 1-0 Chievo)
Stuart Findlay (Hibernian 1-1 KILMARNOCK)
Callum Williams (GATESHEAD 2-2 Hartlepool and Hartlepool 2-2 GATESHEAD)