WANDERERS have made a move to extend Sammy Ameobi’s loan until the end of the season.

Negotiations have begun with Newcastle United to secure the 24-year-old winger beyond January, when his current deal is up.

Phil Parkinson has requested to play Ameobi in this weekend’s FA Cup first round tie with Grimsby Town and sources on Tyneside claim Wanderers are also in talks with his representatives over keeping him at the Macron until the summer, when his contract at St James’ Park expires.

Ameobi has struck a rich vein of form in recent weeks for the Whites, scoring against Blackpool in the EFL Trophy and Millwall in League One.

He has settled well, is currently based at the club's hotel, and has represented the first team on a handful of community appearances as he looks to lay down some roots in the North West.

It is understood Wanderers have struck up a good relationship behind the scenes with Newcastle and hopes are high that Rafa Benitez and the Magpies' hierarchy will give their blessing for him to stay on.

Meanwhile, there was bad news for Wanderers yesterday as it was discovered that skipper Jay Spearing will be out of action for up to four weeks with a torn groin muscle.

Scans revealed damage suffered in the warm-up to last weekend’s 3-1 win over Port Vale was worse than expected and the midfielder will now be side-lined throughout November.

Parkinson has suffered some key injuries in the middle of the park this season, losing Mark Davies long-term and Darren Pratley until Christmas.

Tom Thorpe has made encouraging progress and is now back in light training. The Rotherham United man had initially been ruled out until the New Year but is now due back in action by the end of this month.

Parkinson has also given Lawrie Wilson a pat on the back after his consistent form has helped remedy a potentially tricky problem on the right side of defence.

The knee injury sustained by Lewis Buxton in September’s 0-0 draw with Bradford City left the Whites potentially vulnerable - with Josh Vela initially played out-of-position as cover.

But Wilson’s steady improvement has meant Parkinson was able to push Vela back into his preferred midfield role and put a search for a temporary replacement on hold.

“Even when Lawrie wasn’t in the team his attitude was very, very good,” the manager said. “What you find when you train so well and you’re not in the team but so supportive of the rest of the group, you earn a lot of respect from your team-mates. I think that’s what you see with Lawrie – he’s very well respected.

“He has come in and got better each game. He knows himself that it’s only a start in terms of proving himself but he’s an intelligent player, a good talker and he’s buying into the team ethic”