Newcastle United wing-back Achraf Lazaar has been frozen out at loan club Benevento.

The Evening Chronicle says the struggling Serie A outfit needed to make room for new signing and ex-Arsenal and Man City defender Bacary Sagna, who arrived as an out of contract player this month, has replaced Lazaar on the squad list with the Morocco international effectively been kicked out of Benevento's roster to accommodate the 35-year-old.

Lazaar has now been left out of the 25-man list of players to take part in the second half of the season.

Meanwhile, Nobby Solano was back at Benton yesterday.

Solano – speaking to nufc.co.uk – admitted returning to the training ground was an “emotional" experience.

“My friend, my heart is always in Newcastle!" laughs Solano, who is now preparing for this summer's World Cup as assistant coach of his country. “I'm just visiting, because I've been with the national team so I've been working. But I have a few days off, so I came over to say hello to everyone. I've always been missing Newcastle – I have a lot of good friends and good relationships here.

“The last time (I visited) was about a year-and-a-half or two years ago, but it's nice to see the same faces in the kitchen, the kitmen, the guys who do the grass. It's so nice, so lovely. I was here for years and years so always it brings you back a little bit. It's emotional."