As I was sat following the U-23’s Checktrade Trophy win over Grimsby last night, a promising thought entered my head – “I think we’re finally starting to see some exciting and high potential youngsters come through at Newcastle!”.
Over the last few years there’s been so few rise into the first team from reserve level, with so many handed loan after loan and eventually sold after failing to make the great.
I may be wrong on this one, but I now get the feeling we have a few ‘youngsters’ on our books who could make the grade in the years to come.
There’s Elias Sorensen. On Tuesday night he scored his 15th goal of the season already (yes, FIFTEEN). There’s no stopping the Danish 19-year-old, with Rafa recently giving him his chance to train with the senior side and asking him to knuckle down.
Then we have Callum Roberts, a player that has backed up a few impressive pre-season cameos with a stunning start to the U-23 season – with the young winger bagging 9 goals and 7 assists so far this term.
Sean Longstaff is another one. A player far too good for U-23 level and someone who hasn’t looked out of place during the few occasions Rafa has given him a chance with the first-team.
And then there’s Freddie Woodman (England U-21 international), Victor Fernandez (has been injured recently but looks a lovely little player) and Adam Wilson (recently got called up to England U-18 set up). Summer signing Yannick Toure has also been tipped for big things too, with him rated as one of the top teens in Switzerland when signed from BSC Young Boys a few months ago.
After years of seeing our second string struggle, are we finally about to see some come through the ranks who are capable of cutting it at first-team level? It look that way to me!
Now they’ve shown their ability at U-23 level, maybe it’s time for a few of them to get FA Cup run outs and/or January loans to good EFL clubs?
15 goals (yes FIFTEEN!) already for the U-23's this season..
Elias Sorensen really is on fire ?#NUFC ⚫️⚪️ pic.twitter.com/v8wVnKxzD4
— Black&WhiteBarmy (@BlackWhiteBarmy) November 13, 2018
