Newcastle United starlet set to join Hamilton as Accies midfielder goes under the knife

Hamilton Accies are set to sign Newcastle United starlet Lucas de Bolle on loan after fending off interest from rivals clubs and teams in the English Football League.

The Scotland under-21 midfielder made his first-team debut last month in a friendly against Athletic Bilbao and is highly rated by the Magpies, where has been developing for the past three years.

It would be the second piece of business Accies have conducted with the Magpies this season, following Reagan Thomson's permanent move to Accies from St James' Park in July.

Now Accies boss John Rankin has revealed he expects to get the deal over the line by tomorrow's transfer deadline, having been set to sign the 19-year-old last month before he suffered a concussion that has held back the move.

And that news comes as midfielder Lewis Spence undergoes an operation today to rectify a niggling knee injury, which is expected to keep him out of action for at least six months.

Ahead of the window closing, Rankin said: "We are trying to work on a few things.

"One is nearly done and I'm hoping for another.

"There is a good chance we will get Lucas de Bolle from Newcastle.

"He's a young midfielder, a Scotland under-21 international, who has caught the eye and he's one we feel can improve us.

"That's one we should be doing in the next day or so.

"He will come in and that's one we are excited about that.

"It's one we've been working on. We weren't able to get it over the line before his head knock obviously.

"Such is luck, Lucas took that knock and he has been delayed on his return to play with the protocols that are in place with concussion.

"He's had to do his time and we had to make sure he met all the medical requirements before he comed up and play.

"Lewis Spence has