Newcastle United latest news: Ben Parkinson has opened up about his move to Falkirk.

Newcastle United announced the departure of striker Ben Parkinson last week as he made the move north of the border to join Scottish Premiership side Falkirk.

Falkirk were promoted from the Scottish Championship last season and have made a very good start to life back in the top-flight, sitting sixth in the table after 21 games played. Parkinson, who made his debut for his new club just hours after his transfer was complete, made just one Premier League appearance for the Magpies during his time at the club, coming back in November 2023 away at Bournemouth.

The Magpies academy graduate’s time at his boyhood club ended last week as he moved to Falkirk for an undisclosed fee. Speaking to the media following his debut off the bench against St Mirren, Parkinson admitted moving to the Falkirk Stadium was something he ‘couldn’t refuse’

“Signing on the Friday, chucked straight into the deep end on the Saturday and obviously a good result, I couldn’t have asked for a better start.

“There was a little bit of interest in the summer, I spoke to the gaffer and the assistant and a couple of the backroom staff and it’s a really exciting project. I was excited by it.

“That [summer move] didn’t work out, there were a few different things. I picked up an injury. But when interest came back in January, it was something I couldn’t refuse.”

Probed further on what convinced him to switch Tyneside for Scotland, Parkinson revealed that Jack Ross, Newcastle United’s head of football strategy, played a big part in helping make up his mind.

“There were a couple of staff at Newcastle that had been involved in Scottish football,” Parkinson added, “Jack Ross especially, growing up in Falkirk, born and bred here, played for the club and knows a lot of the staff. I think that was a big reason for the move but also speaking to the gaffer and the project and how well they have started this season, it’s definitely exciting.”

Falkirk host reigning Scottish champions Celtic on Wednesday night with Parkinson in-line to make his home debut against the former European champions.

Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United transfer admission

Parkinson’s departure is not expected to be the last from the current cohort of Under-21 players. Cathal Heffernan, the defender they signed from AC Milan with a vision to a potential future in the first-team, is also expected to leave this month.

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Adam Lawrence, who has now departed the club as Under-21 lead coach, admitted last week that Heffernan could be on the move: “There is potentially something there with Heff. Nothing is confirmed so it would be wrong to speak about anything in terms of that it may happen or it may not happen.”

Elsewhere, Joe White and Harrison Ashby have just had loan moves to Bradford City confirmed by the club. Speaking about transfer business this month, Howe said previously: “I think there's a lot that can happen, both ins and outs. Depending on how we look as we go towards the end of January.

“I don't think I could give you an answer to that right now. There may well be players leaving that need to play or loans for their development.”

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