Former director of football for Reading and Scottish Celtic Nick Hammond will serve as transfer consultant in Newcastle.

According to Sky Sports, the 40 management is still unable to find a new sporting director and therefore decided to use Hammond as a temporary consultant to make several signings during the winter transfer window..

The agreement is valid until the end of the winter transfer window.

Signing Hammond will be the second during the reign of the Saudi Arabian Sovereign Fund - earlier to work in Newcastle, analyst coach from Liverpool Mark Laineland.

Earlier it was reported that Newcastle should appoint a new sporting director only after the end of the winter transfer window..