ADAM Armstrong could be on his way to Wanderers' Lancashire rivals Blackburn Rovers after Newcastle United officially called time on his loan deal yesterday.

The 20-year-old has had mixed success with Bolton since arriving in the summer, scoring just three goals in 23 appearances.

Sources on Tyneside say the youngster was unhappy playing on the left side of attack, having played the majority of his football thus far as a centre-forward. But while Phil Parkinson appeared happy to extend the England youth international's loan until the end of the season, the fact he had not started in the Championship since the end of November eventually convinced the Magpies his future lay elsewhere.

Armstrong bid farewell at Lostock and now looks set for a spell in League One. Parkinson's former club Bradford City had been mentioned as a possible destination but those close to the club doubted whether the Bantams would be able to offer a high enough percentage of the striker's wage to mount a realistic bid.

Rovers boss Tony Mowbray - who worked with Armstrong during the most prolific spell in the youngster's career at Coventry City - is now said to be considering a loan deal to take Armstrong to Ewood Park for the rest of the campaign.

Wanderers intend to replace Armstrong over the coming weeks and ideally want an out-and-out striker with physical presence, but the signs are that Parkinson will only be able to add to his squad with loan players.