Speaking exclusively with Football FanCast, former England international Rob Lee has claimed that Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard is the exact sort of player Newcastle United need.

Steve Bruce’s side is said to be one of a handful of Premier League clubs eying a January loan for Lingard, with reports by the Daily Mail citing Newcastle, West Brom and Sheffield United as potential destinations for the 24-cap England international.

West Ham are also in talks with Manchester United over a deal for Lingard, per The Guardian, with a move to the London Stadium likely to hinge on whether the two sides can agree on a loan fee due to the clubs being apart in their valuations.

Lingard has been pushing for a route out of Old Trafford this month as the £75,000-per-week ace is desperate to secure regular game time, having been cast into the wilderness by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this season.

The 28-year-old is yet to play a single minute in the Premier League and has only been named on the bench in four of the Red Devil’s top-flight fixtures, with Lingard’s start in the FA Cup versus Watford earlier this month his first piece of action since September.

But when asked if Lingard would be a good signing for Newcastle, Lee told FFC:

“He’s better than what we’ve got. I think we need someone from midfield that’s going to score goals and get forward.

“Jesse had a great season probably a season or so ago, hasn't played at all this season, for whatever reason. Sometimes, it's not the player’s fault.

“So, even for him to come into the Newcastle team and make a big difference will be a big challenge. But he’s the sort of player you need as you need someone to break forward.”

Lingard enjoyed his best Premier League campaign in front of the net during the 2017/18 season after scoring eight goals in 33 matches and providing six assists, but has gradually faced less and less game time since the arrival of Solskjaer.

The one-time Europa League winner struck a brace and provided two assists in his first two appearances following Solskjaer’s appointment, yet played fewer minutes (931) in the 19/20 season over more appearances (22) than he achieved in just the second-half of the 18/19 term.

He is now completely frozen out at Old Trafford but has a track record for scoring and assisting for club and country, while Bruce has seen Jeff Hendrick and Miguel Almiron provide Newcastle’s second-most goals in the Premier League with two each to date.

AND in other news, Newcastle have landed a huge boost in their pursuit of a £4m-rated beast…