Our view: Leif Davis’s progress is exactly why Bruce wants change at Newcastle

Follow us on Google Discover

Steve Bruce wants to ensure Newcastle United secure local talent.

Sean Longstaff may have emerged into the Newcastle United first team this year, but the Magpies still need to be developing more local talent.

Paul Dummett is one success story from the Newcastle ranks, but Andy Carroll’s return to the club shows how he hasn’t really fulfilled his potential away from St James’ Park.

The Chronicle now claim that new boss Steve Bruce wants to revamp the club’s youth recruitment, seemingly hoping to do more work in the grassroots scene around the area.

Newcastle missed out on the likes of Alan Shearer, Peter Beardsley and Michael Carrick as youngsters, and Bruce was in a similar boat as he was born in the North East but had to start his career with Gillingham.

Bruce will want a focus on clubs like Wallsend Boys Club, a local youth club who produced Beardsley, Bruce, Carrick and Shearer, as well as Leeds talent Leif Davis.

All have been missed by Newcastle over the years, and Davis showing real potential with Leeds sums up exactly why Bruce wants to make a change with the club’s local scouting.

Davis, 19, was born in Newcastle and started out with Wallsend Boys Club, but was missed by Newcastle as he spent a couple of years with Morecambe before being spotted by Leeds.

The teenager is showing real talent under Marcelo Bielsa, and particularly impressed in the Carabao Cup tie against Salford City last month after a decent pre-season. Bielsa has no qualms trusting Davis at left back or centre back, and his rapid development at Elland Road has seen The Sun link him with moves to both Bournemouth and Liverpool.

Davis has great versatility and potential, and would fit nicely as a left-sided centre back in Bruce’s three-man defence, so seeing a Newcastle-born prospect, formed at Wallsend Boys Club, thrive in the Championship is reminder of the local talent being overlooked.

Davis was right under Newcastle’s nose, but they missed him. This is the kind of talent that Bruce doesn’t want to see go elsewhere, and the Magpies boss is right to push for change in order to ensure that talents like Davis have a pathway to Newcastle first-team football rather than go elsewhere.