Luuk de Jong targets Newcastle United stay

Newcastle United striker Luuk de Jong has admitted that he would love to earn himself a permanent stay at the club when his loan deal from Borussia Monchengladbach expires at the end of the season.

De Jong has scored just once in seven Premier League appearances for the Magpies since joining in January, but said that he is enjoying the English league and feels that he is improving as a player.

"I just want to improve my game every game," De Jong told the Shields Gazette. "That's why I love being here. I hope to be important for the team, and after this season, I hope to stay.

"I like [English football]. It's more physical than Germany and Holland. It's how I like to play. There are a lot of aerial duels."

Newcastle have lost four of their last six Premier League games.