ROLANDO AARONS is ready to hand John Carver a fitness boost ahead of Sunday’s Wear-Tyne derby, but Newcastle United face a fight to keep him.

The 19-year-old’s breakthrough season has been severely hampered by injury and he has not figured since the 1-0 win over Liverpool on November 1.

He had already missed two months of football before that set-back, when his blistering start to the season had alerted many clubs about his ability.

Aarons only has one year remaining on his contract and Newcastle are keen to agree new terms with a player regarded as one of the most promising at the St James’ Park.

Lee Charnley, the managing director, knows he needs to agree fresh terms or risk losing him on the cheap at the end of next season when he would be allowed to leave and a level of compensation would have to be determined.

Arsenal and Liverpool are known to be two of the clubs keeping an eye on the situation, with Jamaican-born Aarons already viewed as a future England international following his appearance for the Under-20s earlier in the campaign.

Carver, who has an extensive list of injury problems reducing his selection options, could do with having Aarons to turn to if required when Newcastle head for the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

The forward has made huge progress on his recovery from his hamstring problem and it is hoped he will be at least on the bench when they look to avoid a fifth straight defeat to the Black Cats.

One of Aarons’ former Newcastle Under-21s team-mates, meanwhile, has been praised north of the border by Rangers boss Stuart McCall.

McCall, who criticised the Tyneside outfit for allowing three players to join on loan despite injury problems on Friday, is satisfied with another short-term acquisition, Haris Vuckic.

The Slovenian came off the bench for the Gers at Cowdenbeath on Saturday and scored twice before he was compared to a star of Rangers’ team in the 90s, Alexei Mikhailichenko.

McCall said: said: “I’ve said before he reminds me so much of big Mikhailichenko who I used to play with. He’s very graceful, left-footed, technically excellent and can score a goal.”

Former Newcastle defender Davide Santon has been added to the Italy squad for Tuesday night’s friendly with England at Wembley. Santon moved to Inter Milan in January.