THE fate of Duncan McGuire’s proposed loan move to Blackburn will decided on Thursday after the Sky Bet Championship club revealed it had been held up by “an administrative error”.

Newcastle head for Ewood Park to face Blackburn later this month in the FA Cup fifth round.

Rovers, who are struggling in the Championship, announced that the Orlando City striker had completed a temporary switch to Ewood Park subject to international clearance and visa checks at 11pm on deadline day last week after an initial deal had fallen through.

However, they have no confirmed it was not approved by the EFL because of the late submission of registration documents, and that the governing body’s board will now consider an appeal on February 8.

A statement on the club’s official website said: “Duncan McGuire’s proposed loan move to Blackburn from MLS side Orlando City has not been approved by the EFL to date due to the registration documents being submitted after the 11pm transfer deadline.

“All of the necessary signed paperwork had been completed prior to 10pm on Thursday, February 1. However due to an administrative error, the forms were not processed within the prescribed time.

“Detailed discussions with legal representatives and the relevant football authorities have taken place over the past few days to try to reach an urgent and positive resolution to the matter.

“The club’s lawyers have prepared the required papers and sent to the EFL board, who will consider the case on Thursday, February 8.”

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Should his registration not be approved, McGuire will return to the United States ahead of the start of the new MLS season and Rovers will attempt to thrash out a pre-contract agreement for the summer transfer window.

The statement continued: “Should the appeal be refused then Blackburn will attempt to reach a pre-contract agreement with Orlando City over the coming weeks to enable the player to officially join the club on a permanent basis when the 2024 summer transfer window opens.

“The club will make no further comment on the matter at this time.”

Newcastle will be backed for an away following of around 7,000 at Ewood Park after the allocation was confirmed this week.