Newcastle United planned for Freddie Woodman to taste Premier League football for the first time by winning promotion with Swansea City and remaining with the Welsh side for another year, according to Chronicle Live journalist Liam Kennedy.
What's the latest news involving Woodman?
Woodman joined Swansea on loan for the first time in 2019 and returned for another 12-month temporary spell a year later.
It was in his latter stint when Woodman played a key role as the Swans reached the Championship play-off final before missing out on promotion to the Premier League thanks to a Wembley defeat at the hands of Brentford.
In total, Woodman made 95 appearances for the Welsh side but, after missing out on play-off glory, the goalkeeper returned to St James' Park in the summer.
He went on to make his Premier League debut in Newcastle's season-opening defeat to West Ham United last month, after Steve Bruce was unable to call upon Martin Dubravka and Karl Darlow due to injury and illness respectively, and managed to hold down his place in the Magpies' starting line-up for the next four fixtures in all competitions.
What has Liam Kennedy said about Woodman?
Kennedy has revealed Newcastle were keen to sanction another temporary move away from St James' Park, with the Magpies youth product still seen as one for the future rather than an automatic Premier League starter.
However, Swansea's failure to climb into the top flight and Dubravka and Darlow's unavailability at the start of the season forced Bruce's hand.
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Kennedy told GMS: "The ideal scenario for everybody would have been for him to win the Championship play-off final and come up with Swansea, have a season on loan with them in the Premier League and cut his teeth in the top flight before coming back to Newcastle ready to challenge Martin Dubravka for the number one shirt.
"You can make plans as much as you want but they get scrapped."
What are the chances of Woodman becoming a Premier League regular this season?
Although Woodman failed to miss a minute of Newcastle's first five matches of the campaign, the 24-year-old was dropped from Bruce's matchday squad for the 1-1 draw with Leeds United last week.
Darlow was between the sticks for the first time this term instead and it appears Woodman may have a tough challenge on his hands if he wants to regain a starting spot.
However, with six England under-21 caps and plenty of senior experience under his belt, it is fair to say Woodman still has a bright future on Tyneside.