Adam Armstrong has completed a loan move to Blackburn Rovers, but does a loan move always pay off?
Tottenham’s Harry Kane says his loan spell at Millwall “made him into a man”.
But on Tyneside, how successful have loan moves been in developing the career of promising youngsters at the club – or giving vital first team football to those more established players out of the first team picture?
Here’s some of the hits and misses.
Shola Ameobi
He’s a hero to the Toon Army fanbase – a point reinforced when supporters applauded his induction in the club’s Hall of Fame last year.
But not all of his time was spent at St James’ Park. Ameobi headed on loan to Stoke City in 2008 and played a small part in their promotion to the Premier League - playing six times.
But it wasn't a loan spell to give him match fitness - Newcastle tried to offload him - but Stoke didn't want him.
Stoke decided not to sign him permanently – probably due to the fact he scored zero goals – and Ameobi returned to Tyneside and turned his career around.
Did the loan spell work? It meant he stayed, but only for the reason Stoke didn't think he was any better than what they already had.
Paul Dummett
Spent two spells away on loan as a 21-year-old – first at Gateshead and then at St Mirren, notching a combined total of 40 appearances.
Dummett is now United’s first team left-back but (many believe) only until they get someone else. The Chronicle claims the Magpies badly missed him this season when he was absent for the first few months with injury. Really?
Dummett credits both spells with helping to develop his career.
Speaking to the Chronicle last year he said: “I think you need to go on loan, or at least from my experience you do. When I was younger I went to Gateshead a lot of players in the reserve team raised their eyebrows. A lot of those players are still in the game but in lower leagues now or in Ireland.
“I played a month or two at Gateshead and played 10 games. I showed the manager at the club then I was capable of playing men’s football.”
Tim Krul
Now at Brighton after leaving United, the club he joined as 17-year-old. With Newcastle never short of quality goalkeepers Krul had to battle with Fraser Forster before even contemplating taking on Shay Given or Steve Harper for the number one spot.
He headed on loan to Falkirk and Carlisle between 2007-2009 and it played a part in convincing the hierarchy he was to stay and not Forster.
Played more than 160 times for the Magpies and many rate him as one of the best goalkeepers ever to play between the sticks for the clubs.
Adam Campbell
Talked about as the next big thing at Newcastle but his career failed to take off on Tyneside, hence why he had five loan spells between 2012-15.
Carlisle, St Mirren, Fleetwood Town, Hartlepool United and Gateshead all took Campbell on but he scored only five goals over that spell. Released from his contract, he joined Notts County and is now at Morecambe.
Nicky Butt
Having had success with Manchester United, including spells at the Premier League and Champions League, Butt joined Sir Bobby Robson’s United in July 2004. He was hit with injury and missed a large part of the 2004-05 season, prompting a loan spell to Birmingham City for the following campaign.
Played 24 times for the Blues before returning to Tyneside and enjoyed a successful four years, if you forget relegation to the Championship in 2008-09. He played more than 130 times for United including filling in as captain.