Ralf Rangnick has played down suggestions that Jesse Lingard can leave Manchester United on loan this January.
Lingard is a player the Magpies have been interested in since last October when his representatives watched the 3-2 loss against Tottenham Hotspur before being introduced to the new owners.
Loan talk from Old Trafford emerged again yesterday but Man United were said to be reluctant to let Lingard leave for both direct rivals and other Premier League sides.
Following last night's win over Brentford, Rangnick said: "Obviously, he needs to play and train on that kind of level [so] that he’s an option to start. We have a big squad; maybe a little bit too big of a squad.
"And as far as I know, his contract is expiring in the summer, and the question is what will happen after that four months? Again, he’s a player who can play.
"I brought him on in the last 10 minutes of the Villa game, together with Donny van de Beek and he will probably not be available for tomorrow because he didn't train yesterday and the day before yesterday."
