Former Leeds United, Manchester City and England international Danny Mills has claimed to Football Insider that Arsenal ace Rob Holding would start for Newcastle United should he make the move to St. James' Park.

Indeed, The Atheltic journalist and Gunners transfer guru David Ornstein has recently claimed that the Englishman is close to signing for the Tyneside club on a season-long loan deal.

After hearing about this story, Mills was asked as to whether Holding would start in Steve Bruce's team ahead of the new 2020/21 term, to which he replied:

“Yes, definitely. Newcastle we know last year had all sorts of issues with injuries. Strength in depth is a real problem for them.

“They need some solid players in there and that’s what Steve Bruce will have identified. They might not be the most exciting side on the planet but you’ve got to trust in Steve Bruce and he’ll know what that team needs.

“If you look at the players they’ve got and some of the flair players they’ve got, you need a solid base. 

“He (Bruce) was a defender himself and an unbelievable defender and obviously worked under the greatest Premier League manager of all time so he’ll know what it takes.

“If you get that foundation right then you can build everything of the back of that.”

Indeed, Holding would arguably be a solid signing for the Magpies even if it is just for one campaign. The 24-year old is relatively experienced in the Premier League, having played in 39 matches in total over the last four terms, according to Transfermarkt.

Holding has also won FA Cup trophies and two Community Shield titles, including recently being in the starting 11 which beat Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side 5-4 on penalties after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s rather superb first-half goal was cancelled out by Japanese international Takumi Minamino in the second.

His winning mentality may be useful to Bruce’s team as they look to get enough points on the board in the top-flight table for the new campaign.

The central defender also averaged more passes at a higher success rate than Jamaal Lascelles, Fabian Schar and Federico Fernandez in the EPL in the last season, suggesting that he is more composed on the ball and is comfortable in playing out from the back if and when needed.

Holding may well be a shrew addition to the Toon should NUFC be able to get his signature over the dotted line.

Geordies, would Holding be a good signing? Comment below!