Former Newcastle United defender Steve Howey has urged the club to sign Queens Park Rangers striker Charlie Austin.

The Magpies have reportedly made a £15m bid for the 26-year-old after seeing an initial offer rejected by QPR earlier this month.

Austin scored 18 goals for Rangers in the Premier League last season, though he was unable to stop them from being relegated.

"I think he would be an excellent signing," Howey told Sky Sports News. "He's a proven goalscorer in the Premier League. Even in a team that got relegated he scored goals.

"If Newcastle get somebody like him I think that would be an absolutely massive boost for the boys going into the start of the season.

"When you've got somebody like that, you could be not playing so well – away or at home – and all of a sudden he gets half a sniff in the box and it's in the back of the net, and you end up getting three points."

Austin's current deal with QPR expires at the end of next season.