Despite some lacklustre years in the 2010s, it’s finally starting to look like Newcastle United’s U-21 setup is building some momentum and a reputation for developing talent.

In the last few years, Sean Longstaff, Lewis Miley and Elliot Anderson are just a few names to graduate from the Little Benton Academy and make a name for themselves in the senior squad.

And after some impressive recent performances, another U-21 starlet is showing all the signs of becoming a simply undeniable talent ready to break into the first team…

Former Man City talent shining on Tyneside

Our second string ran riot at St James’ Park against Reading on Monday night, with Garang Kuol, Jay Turner-Cooke, and Leo Shahar each finding the net in 7-1 rout of the Royals.

But with another goal and assist to his name, 19-year-old Alfie Harrison looks to have finally got people talking about him once again.

Having trained with the senior squad upon his arrival from Manchester City back in February of last year, his performances so far this season have gone under the radar.

In-form attacker Sean Neave has been rewarded with a place on the bench recently, and it may not be long until Harrison is called up by Howe when looking at his numbers for the U-21s.

Maximising his minutes

Out of every player in the Premier League 2 this season, Harrison ranks 92nd for minutes played.

However, it’s his returns in the final third that are hugely impressive, with no player in the country at U-21 level bettering his total of seven league assists so far, showing his creative spark to help our young Magpies qualify for the PL2 Play-Offs.

He sits tied for goals created with West Ham’s Lewis Orford and Man City’s Emilio Lawrence, despite playing significantly less minutes.

Digging a bit deeper, the stats show he’s been involved in 10 goals (three goals, seven assists) in just 13 starts in the Premier League 2 this season; a clear sign the youngster is finally finding his feet in the North East after arriving from Man City’s U-18s as a real coup for Newcastle’s Academy.

What next for the U-21s?

Head Coach Diarmuid O’Carroll has done wonders since his appointment at the beginning of the season, with the likes of Harrison and Kuol shining after that the Irishman labelled a “challenging period” for the side over the winter in terms of outgoings and loan departures.

With nine wins from the last 15 games, and a significant improvement in terms of results compared to the same side that finished 22nd in the table last season, the U-21s are serving a testament to the overall improvement in all sectors of the club, alongside the senior, U-18s and women’s sides.

Though the demands of European football and domestic competitions may warrant Harrison, Neave, Kuol and other junior stars to be called up by Eddie Howe, our keen eye for domestic and international talent to embed into the system should make this no issue very soon.