Joe White will return to Newcastle United next week – but Lee Bell is hopeful he will be back at Crewe Alexandra before the end of January.

The midfielder is fit and expected to start for The Railwaymen against Swindon Town at Mornflake Stadium on Saturday (3pm).

That will be the final game of his current loan spell, and the Alex Manager has revealed that Magpies boss Eddie Howe wants to ‘have a look at him’.

However, Bell is optimistic that White will rejoin on loan before the Transfer Window closes.

He said: “We’ve had a lot of talk (with Newcastle) this week and we feel we have hit somewhere that we can be confident enough that Joe will come back to us on loan.

“Newcastle have their injury problems so Eddie Howe wants to have a look at him. He will go back after Saturday’s game.

“That’s brilliant for Joe and I’ve told him he should be proud of that. He has been brilliant for us up to now, so let’s hope that can continue.”

White has made 24 appearances for Crewe since joining in September. His winner against Mansfield Town last weekend was his third for the club.