Rangers sign five Newcastle players on loan on deadline day

Chances to play in the Newcastle first team appear to have dried up for Gael Bigirimana

Former England Under-20 midfielder Gael Bigirimana is among five loan signings Rangers have secured from Newcastle.

The 21-year-old has made 28 appearances for Newcastle since arriving from Coventry City in summer 2012 for £1m.

But the Burundi-born player has not played for the Magpies' first team since August 2013.

Midfielder Haris Vuckic, Swiss defender Kevin Mbabu, English defender Remie Streete and Northern Ireland cap Shane Ferguson are also moving to Rangers.

Slovenia international Vuckic, 22, joined Newcastle from Domzale in 2009 and has had loan spells at Cardiff City and Rotherham United.

Mbabu, 19, has been with Newcastle since 2013.

Streete, 20, had a loan spell at Port Vale last year, while Ferguson, 23, has had two loan spells at Birmingham.

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is a Rangers shareholder and has loaned the Ibrox club funds to stay in business.

There are no restrictions on loan signings from outside Scotland in the Scottish Professional Football League.