Newcastle United's curremt training ground(Image: Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle)

Newcastle United are understood to have made some serious progress on a new training ground.

Chronicle Live has learned that the Magpies have taken a step closer to moving away from their current Benton HQ with a site near Newcastle Airport thought to be on the agenda.

That is the preferred area after the club looked into a move to Seaton Burn earlier this year and the club are in a position to purchase land in Woolsington.

With Newcastle's ambition being questioned by some sections of the media, this is believed to be PIF's response to talk that they are not invested in the long-term.

And it means that United could be on the move within a couple of years.

A new training ground has been on CEO David Hopkinson's to do list since arriving as Toon supremo.

Howe had stated that he did not expect to be at the club by the time a new training ground and stadium would be in place.

And while Newcastle chiefs do expect to be at St James' Park for the mid-term, Howe...