Newcastle extend Barlaser's contract as he is told he will be part of first-team

Newcastle have extended the contract of Dan Barlaser and told the midfielder he will be part of the senior set-up ahead of next season, Sportsmail has learned.

The 23-year-old is among the player-of-the-season contenders in League One having emerged as the driving force behind Rotherham’s promotion bid.

Sources close to Newcastle who have tracked Barlaser’s progress say he is unrecognisable from the young player who last appeared for the first team in 2017 under Rafa Benitez.

Loan spells at Crewe, Accrington and Rotherham have seen him amass 84 senior appearances in the past three seasons and Magpies loan manager Shola Ameobi has returned glowing reports.

Rotherham boss Paul Warne - whose side are set to go up on a points-per-game system - said earlier this season that his team was not the same without ‘quarterback’ Barlaser in it, and Newcastle have taken note.

We understand they exercised an option to keep him at the club until 2021 in March but the news was not released.

Head coach Steve Bruce has indicated that he wants him around the senior group after the conclusion of the current season and will be given a chance to impress.

The possibility remains of Barlaser heading out on loan to the Championship next season, but Newcastle want to take a closer look at the former England youth international alongside Premier League team-mates.

One source points to the manner in which Sean and Matty Longstaff seized their first-team chance and they believe Barlaser now has the physique and technique to compete at the top level.