'They've not got the green light': Significant Newcastle United update revealed ahead of key meeting

Newcastle United and their Premier League rivals have not yet got the ‘green light’ to play their remaining fixtures behind closed doors.

That’s according to culture secretary Oliver Dowden, who has urged caution over the Premier League's plans to play out the rest of the season behind closed doors.

He told BBC Radio 4: "They've not got the green light.

"If we can get a plan that works then I'd like us to be able to go ahead with it because I think it would be good for the nation, it would be good for football as a whole.

"I'm really hopeful we can get this up and running but public safety must come first so it's only if we're confident of that that we'll be able to proceed."

Dowden is set to meet with top flight officials next week to thrash out plans for a return.