JAMES MILNER, statistically one of the most consistent creators since securing a loan move to Aston Villa, has admitted a return to Newcastle United would appeal provided he is not going to spend most of his time on the bench.

Milner is turning in impressive performances for Villa and is third only to Jose Antonio Reyes and Danny Murphy in the Premiership's assists chart.

The 20-year-old claimed his seventh assist at Middlesbrough on Saturday, when he teed up former Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips for the second of four goals at the Riverside Stadium.

Milner is clearly revelling in his new role as a regular in the English top-flight, something Graeme Souness did not believe he could become this season.

Souness, sacked last week for failing to steer Newcastle out of their depressing spell, was reluctant to let the England Under-21 international move on in August, but it was the only way to lure Nolberto Solano back to Tyneside.

Milner has never looked back, turning in the sort of display on either flank that Newcastle have lacked at times this season.

But the former Leeds midfielder - who is ineligible to play when Newcastle travel to Villa Park on Saturday - has reassured Magpies supporters there is every chance he could be back.

"Newcastle are a massive club. They're a great club to play for and they have a great ground to play at," said Milner. "I love the place, I have a house up there still.

"But Aston Villa are a great club too. All I can say is that I will continue to play my football to the best of my ability and see what happens in the summer.

"As far as I know it is just a loan deal until the end of the season. What happens after that has to be decided between the two clubs. I'd be happy to play wherever."

Milner has been one of the brightest prospects in the English game since he burst on to the scene as a 16-year-old at Leeds United.

After Leeds' demise, when they dropped into the Championship in 2004, Sir Bobby Robson paid £3.6m for his services and he was earmarked as one of the younger generation who would secure a bright future at Newcastle.

Souness' decision to allow Milner to leave on a season-long loan has proved flawed.

In his 20 league appearances for Villa, Milner has been one of David O'Leary's star performers, so much so that he feels Newcastle will hike up the asking price at the end of his loan spell.

"I wanted to be playing at Newcastle and I was in and out last season. I did get a lot of appearances under my belt but a lot of those were from the bench," said Milner.

"I think I made something like 17 starts. It was disappointing that I had to leave because I couldn't get in the team. But if you look at the quality there is at Newcastle it is always going to be tough. For me, though, at this moment it is just great to be playing as often as I am at Aston Villa.

"I have shown I am good enough to play regularly in the Premiership. I firmly believe I am good enough, I am showing that and it is nice to be proved right. I have played a lot of games.

"You can't really see someone's best form until they are playing every week. I'm doing that now and I'm enjoying my football again."

As a Newcastle employee, temporarily away from his desk, Milner has taken a keen interest in the goings-on over the past seven days, as a heavy defeat to Manchester City resulted in Souness being sacked.

Under caretaker Glenn Roeder, assisted by Alan Shearer, Newcastle got off to the perfect start with a 2-0 win over Portsmouth and Milner feels Newcastle could still enjoy a strong end to the campaign.

"There was major disappointment at the start for Newcastle but that will be all forgotten and the whole manager thing will be forgotten if they can finish strongly," he said.

"That's a similar case to what we have experienced at Villa but without the change of manager.

"Playing in the Premiership as regularly as I have been this season has been great for me and I'm loving every minute of it. I just want t to continue and I will become a better player for that."

Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has insisted there has been 'no approach' made to any of his targets to take over as manager at St James' Park.

Former Celtic boss Martin O'Neill remains his number one choice but the Football Association are likely to look at him as the perfect candidate to replace Sven-Goran Eriksson after this summer's World Cup