Newcastle United's Joe White wanted by Crewe Alexandra for season

The League Two club have said they are hoping for "some good news" soon on retaining the Cumbrian midfielder's services.

White, 21, has impressed in his 15 outings for the Railwaymen in the third loan spell of his young career.

Having joined Crewe until mid-January, Alex boss Lee Bell now wants the England youth international player on board for the duration of their promotion push.

“Newcastle have been brilliant with us and we have spoken to them and Joe in the last couple of weeks," Bell told Crewe's website.

White has made 15 appearances for the League Two club so far (Image: PA)

“We’ve given them some really positive feedback and hopefully in the next couple of weeks we will have some good news.”

White is gaining crucial first-team experience at Crewe, after previous loans at Hartlepool United and Exeter City.

He has made 11 league appearances, scoring his first professional goal against Gillingham in the process, along with four cup outings for Bell's team.

Crewe are fifth in League Two and also in the second round of the FA Cup, White helping the Railwaymen defeat Derby County in the first round to set up a second round clash with Bristol Rovers.

White, who was on Carlisle's academy books before joining Newcastle in his teens, is the grandson of the late former Carlisle United player, coach and physio and Workington Reds manager Peter Hampton.

The young midfielder has long been regarded as a bright prospect for the St James' Park club and has been on the first-team bench at times for the Magpies.

He was part of Newcastle's senior squad in pre-season, including a summer trip to the USA with Eddie Howe's squad.

White now has 42 EFL appearances under his belt through his three loan moves to date. He has also turned out for his parent club's Under-21s in the EFL Trophy.