Newcastle United youngster Kell Watts picks up knee injury and returns to Benton

The Magpies are impressed with his efforts so far after joining Stevenage back in the summer

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Lewis Cass and Kelland Watts warm up with the Newcastle team

Newcastle United youngster Kell Watts has returned to the club following a loan deal from Stevenage.

But the 20-year-old is expected to return to the EFL club in the new year.

Watts has picked up a knee injury while on loan with Mark Sampson's League Two side and has returned to Tyneside for treatment for the rest of the month.

United have been quietly impressed with Watts' loan stint so far with the defender playing in 20 matches this term in the EFL's basement division.

Watts recently signed a three-year deal with the Magpies to commit his future to the club.

The Alnwick-born player was one of the stars of the season for United in the Under-23s last season as they reached two finals and the latter stages of the EFL Trophy.

Watts also made his debut for the first team in pre-season in the Premier League Asia Trophy game against Wolverhampton Wanderers in Nanjing.