Newcastle United have turned down Peterborough's request to terminate Kell Watts loan.

Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony says he would ask the Magpies for a favour after Watts picked up a hamstring injury just days after his loan spell was extended until May.

The League One side had hoped to reinvest Watt's wages back into the playing squad, but Newcastle turned down their request. In response to a tweet asking if the League One club was unable to end Watts' loan, MacAnthony said: “Correct. Asked three times and turned down three times. Life of an EFL club at times."

Speaking last month, MacAnthony told the Hard Truth Podcast: “We want to sign a centre-back in this window but we are on the hook financially for Kell Watts which means we can't budget for a new signing. I am going to contact Dan Ashworth to see if Newcastle can do us a favour.

“Clubs have done favours for us in the past when loan players have picked up injuries and I have helped out non-league clubs in similar situations. Sometimes clubs help and sometimes they don't, but I will be asking the question."