Willems & Dummett out for the season
Jetro Willems and Paul Dummett will miss the rest of the season through injury, Newcastle manager Steve Bruce confirmed on Monday.
Willems ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in Saturday's 1-0 victory against Chelsea, while Dummett suffered a hamstring injury in the FA Cup third round replay win over Rochdale in midweek.
With Willems on a season-long loan from Eintracht Frankfurt, it means the 25-year-old has potentially played his last game for the Magpies, though Bruce says Newcastle have not yet ruled out offering the Dutchman a permanent deal.
Bruce, who is hopeful of clinching a loan deal for Inter Milano winger Valentino Lazaro, admitted his January transfer plans may have to change because of the misfortune of the two left-sided defenders.
Villa sign Samatta
Aston Villa have completed the signing of striker Mbwana Samatta from Genk on a 4-and-a-half-year contract.
The 27-year-old's move is subject to a work permit and international clearance being granted.
Villa made signing Samatta, who has scored 43 goals in 98 league appearances for Genk, a priority following the injury to striker Wesley Moraes who has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Sky Sports News first reported that Villa wanted to sign the 27-year-old Tanzania international in July of last summer.