January move for Newcastle target Choudhury looks unlikely due to Ndidi

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Newcastle United were unable to get a deal over the line for Hamza Choudhury this summer.

The midfielder has been a target throughout Steve Bruce’s tenure, and came very close to joining the club on deadline day.

But the 24-year-old ended up staying at Leicester City and has had to wait patiently to make his first appearance of the season.

Ndidi injury gives Choudhury a chance

Brendan Rodgers’ side face a spell without their midfield rock Wilfred Ndidi after he picked up a hamstring injury last month during the Foxes’ 2-2 draw against Burnley.

The Daily Mail report that Ndidi could miss up to five weeks and as many as seven matches.

It means that Choudhury could get a chance to stake his claim alongside Youri Tielemans in crucial matches against the likes of Manchester United, a Europa League double header against Spartak Moscow and a Carabao Cup fourth round clash against Brighton.

The England Under-21 international made his first appearance of the season in Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace.

With his team leading 2-0 at Selhurst Park, Choudhury was replaced on the hour mark by Leicester’s summer signing Boubakary Soumare.

January Newcastle move unlikely for Choudhury

Choudhury will be hoping to establish himself as Tielemans’ midfield partner in the absence of Ndidi.

But Rodgers will lose Ndidi again possibly for up to a month in January due to the Nigerian’s participation in the African Cup of Nations.

This could prove a stumbling block in Newcastle’s attempts to reignite our interest in Choudhury come the January transfer window.

Choudhury is going to get two windows of opportunity to capitalise on Ndidi’s absence and that will probably mean Rodgers keeps him at the club for the duration of the season.

It could well mean that any pursuit of Choudhury has to be put on the backburner until next summer.