Ki Sung-yueng has been linked with a return to Celtic - and is likely to be allowed to leave Newcastle United this January.
The 30-year-old has only made three appearances this season and has fallen down the list for the first team with Jonjo Shelvey, Isaac Hayden,Sean and Matty Longstaff ahead of him in the queue.
While his attitude and experience is appreciated by Steve Bruce - there is an acceptance that the midfielder, at this stage in his career, will want first-team football, something that can't be guaranteed at the Magpies.
Speaking earlier this month about potential exits, Bruce name-checked the South Korean: "Ki is another one - I’m sure there’ll be two or three.
"If you’re not paying regularly when you get to a certain age, you’re entitled to knock down the door. I know what I was like. I wouldn’t accept that I couldn’t play on a Saturday."
Ki has been missing from the squad due to illness but hasn't been in the squad since the 5-0 thumping suffered at the hands of Leicester back in September.
