Reports by 90min earlier this week claimed Newcastle United have been offered the chance to sign free-agent Daniel Sturridge, but Steve Bruce should ignore a desperate bid to replace the injured Callum Wilson with the former Liverpool striker.

The Magpies are due to be without their 10-goal top-scorer for the best part of two months after Wilson sustained a deep hamstring tear during his side’s 3-2 win over Southampton earlier this month.

Bruce opted to fill the ex-AFC Bournemouth marksman’s void with Miguel Almiron playing a false nine position at Chelsea on Monday night, while Allan Saint-Maximin and Dwight Gayle operated in wider roles at Stamford Bridge.

Newcastle’s makeshift system failed to result in taking any points from south west London with each of Almiron, Gayle and Saint-Maximin taking one shot but only Gayle forcing a save from Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Second-half substitutes Joelinton and Andy Carroll further failed to record a single effort, to see that the pair plus Gayle remain on just one goal each in the Premier League this season.

The Toon could look to outside options in their search for goals amid a relegation fight, with it claimed that Sturridge has been offered on a short-term deal.

West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield United are thought to have contacted the 31-year-old to discuss a potential Premier League return, while an intermediary has reached out to the Magpies following Wilson’s injury.

90min further added that Sturridge has been keeping fit following his release by Super Lig side Trabzonspor last March in anticipation of a return to football.

Sturridge played just 16 games for Trabzonspor after being dropped by Liverpool at the end of his contract in 2019, in which he scored seven goals across all competitions but was axed by the Turkish club 17-months before his deal was due to run out.

The £3.5m-rated forward is now said to be under consideration for a potential return to English football by Newcastle, but Bruce should walk away from the intermediary offering Sturridge’s services.

Newcastle would have no guarantees over what sort of player they would be signing in Sturridge, who may have scored 77 times throughout his career in the Premier League but only hit two of those in his final 18 games following another two-goal campaign in 2017/18.

The 6 foot 2 man also struggled to establish himself at Trabzonspor prior to his release, with Sturridge only starting 11 of his 16 appearances and playing an average of just 52.75 minutes a game.

That’s before 11 months on the sidelines, that will surely have taken a toll on his fitness no matter the regime the 26-cap England international has put in place.

Injuries have taken its toll on the striker, and he seems to be a player on a downward slope. The Magpies mustn't fall into the trap of making a desperate move for him to remedy their number nine woes.

AND in other news – Exclusive: Steve Howey drops verdict on Graeme Jones replacing Steve Bruce