Speaking exclusively to FootballFanCast, Steve Howey has claimed his former side Newcastle should have signed Southampton star Danny Ings.

The England international enjoyed a sparkling campaign last year for Ralph Hasenhuttl's side, netting 22 Premier League goals and finishing joint-second in the race for the Golden Boot, with Leicester's Jamie Vardy taking the crown with 23.

When asked by FFC's James Beavis about which summer signing from another club Newcastle should have made themselves, Howey said: "I don't think it was this summer in fairness, but I know for a while, a long while, I was singling out Danny Ings. I thought Newcastle could have benefitted from somebody like him. I think Steve McClaren was the manager, and having a quick conversation with Steve, I think the fee was something like £12m and they were quite happy to pay that. Then it went up to £15m, and it was a case of we're not paying that fee for him.

"For me it would have been him. Having said that, I was really pleased with Callum Wilson. I've always liked Callum Wilson, and I like Josh King. But as I said, I think Danny Ings would have been the one."

Wilson's start to life on Tyneside has been a very encouraging one, with the former Bournemouth man bagging four goals in six games - the exactly same amount as Ings.

The latter however, appears to have moved up the pecking order at international level, with England manager Gareth Southgate calling him up for the recent friendlies and Nations League clashes.

Valued at £18m by Transfermarkt, Ings could have been a real marquee signing for the Magpies. But as Howey himself points out, Newcastle have still got a very good striker in the shape of Wilson.