Newcastle coach suggests Sorensen hype means Roberts isn’t getting enough attention

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Newcastle United striker Elias Sorensen is attracting plenty of plaudits.

Newcastle United’s Under-21 coach Ben Dawson has told the club’s official website that the furore over Elias Sorensen means Callum Roberts is flying under the radar.

The Magpies sent their Under-21’s to take on League Two side Grimsby Town on Tuesday night, playing the final game of the Checkatrade Trophy group stage.

Newcastle came away with a superb 3-2 win, with Roberts, Sorensen and Matty Longstaff all on the scoresheet in an impressive victory.

Newcastle’s Under-21’s have been praised for their style of play under Dawson, and young forward Sorensen has been grabbing all the headlines.

The Dane, 18, joined Newcastle from HB Koge in 2016, and has now smashed 10 goals in 11 games this season, leading fans to beg for him to be given a chance in the Newcastle first team by Rafael Benitez.

That seems unlikely given Benitez’s history with young players, but Sorensen is the man of the moment in the Newcastle youth setup right now, with fans and press hailing his progression.

After Tuesday’s win, coach Dawson suggested that whilst Sorensen deserves the plaudits coming his way, fellow young forward Roberts is now flying under the radar as a result, and needs more recognition after such impressive performances, such as in last night’s win.

“There has been a lot of press around Elias, for obvious reasons, because of his goalscoring form, but that also means that some of the others – like Cal, and some of the others who have been contributing – kind of go under the radar, and they don’t get as much attention in games from the opposition as what Elias has had,” said Dwason. “Cal’s scored the first, then he plays a great cross to the back post to Elias for the second, and then wins the free kick.”

“I think he needs a bit of recognition given his performance tonight, and his performances in the other two games. We’ve asked a lot of him out of possession. We know he’s quality on the ball, but as one of the more senior players, we’ve asked him to help us a bit more in terms of that defensive role – pressing from the front, or recovering back and helping the full back when he’s playing in wide areas. He’s been terrific at that,” he added.