If The Chronicle’s Lee Ryder is to be believed, it seems U-23 talent Rodrigo Vilca could be going out on loan to League Two side Carlisle United.
Apparently, Peru want him playing regular first-team football if he’s to stay in the National Squad – not that a surprise stint at Brunton Park is what they will have in mind!
The last Newcastle player to join Carlisle on loan was Elias Sorensen. A highly-rated U-23 at the time but a player who was recalled early after being constantly left out of their matchday squad.
Things may have changed, but add in the fact that Carlisle are flying at the moment and seem to have a very settled side and squad, could Rodrigo force his way into a side going so well?
There seems little doubt that the boy has talent, making a move to England’s fourth tier seem a bizarre one for a player who turns 22 in March and was training with his country just a few months ago.
Whilst Peru may not be a giant amongst South American countries, they’ve always been a bit handy and for one of their squad members to be with a Premier League side has to be good for them and the player.
But with the greatest respect in the world to Carlisle and League Two surely Vilca is better than that. Perhaps a move to a Championship side would be better or even leave him where he is and let him get more acclimatised. I think we owe him more than the four months he’s had so far.
Plus, he’s young but not young! What I mean is he’s almost 22 and had been playing senior football for a few seasons in Peru, not an 17-year-old with zero experience. I hardly think he, his agent or the Peruvian International hierarchy envisaged him playing in League Two when he went to England. Perhaps they were naïve if they thought he’d get straight into the Premier League side but they seemed to think it was a move that would develop him.
Time will tell. Personally, I wouldn’t be sending him to Carlisle based on last time we did business with them. Unless he’s unhappy and wants to play more competitive football I’d leave him where he is, let him play U-23’s then see what he produces pre-season.
By then we should know what type of player and prospect we have and what might be best for all parties moving forward. If a loan suits at that stage then fine but to ship him out to Carlisle right now seems a bit narrow-sighted and a touch bizarre.
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We’ll never know how good Vilca is, or Elliott Anderson, Flaherty and Francilette come to that, because Bruce hasn’t got the balls to play them. Our young players never get a chance and then disappear from sight.
It’s happened for years.
taken4mugs(Quote)
bruce would rather take a kid on loan from his favourite team than give our youngsters a chance then again who would want him to ruin them liked he has done to our first team squad where everybody has gone backwards under him the guy is an absolute joke of a head coach
kev the mag(Quote)