On what was a rather quiet deadline day for Newcastle United, one notable piece of business saw long-serving goalkeeper Karl Darlow join Championship outfit, Hull City on loan until the end of the season, with the Englishman having been on the periphery under Eddie Howe of late.

The experienced stopper had previously challenged Martin Dubravka for a starting berth in recent years - notably making 25 Premier League appearances during the 2020/21 campaign - although the arrival of summer signing Nick Pope seemingly ended any hopes of the 32-year-old nailing down a regular role, with the former Burnley ace now the main man between the sticks in both league and cup.

With the Magpies already having the likes of Mark Gillespie and Lorius Karius on the books - as well as the returning Martin Dubravka - it seemingly made sense to allow Darlow to depart, with the goalkeeping ranks already appearing rather full.

The former Nottingham Forest man was not the only figure who the Tynesiders should well have moved in in January, however, with forgotten man Ryan Fraser another who seemingly has "no future" at St James' Park, in the words of pundit Tam McManus.

Reports had emerged in recent weeks that the northeast side were open to cashing in on the £42k-per-week man before the deadline, with the Scotland international said to have been keen to depart during the summer.

There had been some suggestion that the 28-year-old could also be joining the Tigers, alongside Darlow, although no such move came to fruition, with Howe now lumbered with a player who appears to be surplus to requirements at present.

The former Bournemouth speedster has endured a rather underwhelming spell at Newcastle, in truth, with just three goals and six assists to his name in 59 appearances since his free transfer arrival back in 2020.

Those woes have been laid bare in the current campaign with the diminutive dud having not featured in the top flight since back in October, after also playing no role in the club's Carabao Cup run thus far.

With the recent acquisition of £45m man Anthony Gordon having only enhanced the competition for places in the attacking ranks, it is difficult to see Fraser being able to force his way back into Howe's reckoning, with his Newcastle career seemingly only going one way.

Having failed to move the 26-cap winger on last month, it does appear that a summer departure is now an inevitability.