Although Newcastle United seem to have left the disappointment of a barren winter transfer window far behind them of late as they close in on promotion to the Premier League, January 2017 shouldn't be a month to forget for those on Tyneside.

The club's failure to bring anyone in over the New Year period may have seen Rafa Benitez's long-term future cast into doubt, though it did also see initial links with Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney emerge. At the time, the reported £20m transfer fee was largely scoffed at by many supporters, including myself, though the Scotland international is proving hard to ignore right now.

One of the Championship's elite playmakers, the 26-year-old would go some way to helping Newcastle find a creative spark not wholly apparent when Jonjo Shelvey is either out injured or completely non-existent. With nine goals and nine assists for the Cottagers this season, Cairney is reaping the rewards of his hard work over recent years.

Released by Leeds United following concerns about his physical ability to compete at a high level, he joined Hull City back in 2007, though struggled to break into the Tigers' first-team. Despite making his Premier League debut around seven years ago now, injuries prevented him from ever truly creating the sort of momentum required to produce the sort of form he's showing now.

As a young player, he was unable to prevent the eventual relegation on Humberside, showing only glimpses of the talent so evident to onlookers in west London these days. An impressive volley in a 5-1 drubbing against Everton back in 2010 should have given an indication as to his ability, though it was sadly lost in the mire of misery for Hull.

Cairney would then suffer a long-term injury in the League Cup upon Hull's return to the Championship, shortly after signing a new deal, as Steve Bruce attempted to restore Premier League status at the KCOM Stadium. Interestingly, though he was unable to find the sort of rhythm he is so enjoying at Craven Cottage right now, it's clear Cairney was even having an effect on more senior teammates.

George Boateng, who captained the club at the time, gave him a glowing reference. Before pledging his international allegiance to the Tartan Army, Boateng prophecised that Cairney could be 'an England international' and praised him as a 'tremendous talent'.

“In the future I want to be sat at home and say to my kids ‘You see that boy wearing the England shirt? I played with him.’ That would be a very proud moment for me.”

Still, with Bruce hell-bent on returning the Tigers to the Promised Land, Cairney made a move to Blackburn Rovers, where his artistry was lost amid the anarchy of a club teetering on the brink of a complete meltdown. However, since moving to Fulham, he's starting to look like the player Boateng predicted he would be all those years ago. Just for Scotland, instead of England.

Having made his international debut during a dismal 1-1 draw with minnows Canada last night, he continued to impress. Though the game at Easter Road was one to forget for Gordon Strachan, he provided a few highlights on an otherwise terrible night in Leith. Whether he was dropping deep to partner Darren Fletcher or pushing up to support Steven Naismith, Cairney showed an ability to pick a pass not at all evident to anyone else on the park.

Which is exactly why Newcastle should be taking an interest. Creativity has been an issue at St. James' Park this season, as well as goals from midfield. Shelvey can only do so much and part of the reason he's proved so popular with the Toon Army is the fact he's finally offered the side a deep-lying playmaker, a role not filled since Yohan Cabaye left the club in January 2013.

At their worst, the Magpies struggle to link defence and attack, particularly when Shelvey sits back to try and dictate play from deep within his own half. Though the nature of their dominance in the Championship affords the likes of Isaac Hayden to roam, the Premier League would provide a different challenge entirely.

Dwight Gayle is never likely to drop deep, leaving a gaping hole in the No.10 role, one Mo Diame struggles to truly fill on a consistent basis even in the second tier of English football. From a tactical point of view, signing a hard-working, creative talent to try and take some of the pressure from Shelvey is surely a no-brainer.

When Fulham recently traveled to the North East to beat the Toon Army 3-1, Cottagers defender Ryan Sessegnon took most of the plaudits as he scored twice to end Newcastle's imperious run of form. Still, it was Cairney pulling the strings at St. James' Park, operating as the orchestrator of the Cottagers' onslaught. And if Newcastle needed any more convincing of Cairney's talent, he also scored a wonderful goal in front of the home crowd.

If the Magpies do indeed make it back to the Premier League, they should do all they can to ensure that's a more regular occurrence, only with Cairney clad in black and white.