Last season rising stars Andy Carroll and Tim Krul were among those loaned out by Newcastle United, spending time at Preston North End and Falkirk respectively.

And the pair – along with the likes of David Edgar, Tamas Kadar and Ben Tozer – could again find themselves farmed out to play competitive football.

Keegan and the club's hierarchy are keen to bring on United's young players, and gaining first-team experience at league clubs is seen as vital to their development.

Owner Mike Ashley sees Newcastle's Academy as vital to the club's future, and is determined that players are given every chance to break into Keegan's side.

Striker Carroll – who will miss England's European Under-19 Championship campaign with a heel injury – spent six months at Deepdale last season, while goalkeeper Krul returned early from a season-long loan in the Scottish Premier League when he dislocated his shoulder.

Carroll is keen to push for first-team football at St James's Park, but has Mark Viduka, Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins and Alan Smith ahead of him in the pecking order, while Krul is behind hugely-experienced duo Shay Given and Steve Harper.

Defender Edgar has never been loaned out, and neither have January defensive recruits Kadar and Tozer.