‘Outstanding’ Newcastle gem eyes loan exit to send Eddie Howe message

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Newcastle United prospect Matt Bondswell is keen to seal a late window loan deal to show Eddie Howe his potential in a first-team this season, amid interest from the Football League.

Matt Bondswell keen to secure Newcastle loan exit to show first-team potential

According to Chronicle Live, Matt Bondswell is eager to leave Newcastle United on loan in the final weeks of the summer market. He is keen to show Eddie Howe what he can offer in a first-team setting, believing he needs senior football over a season with the reserves.

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A clutch of Football League teams are monitoring developments at St James’ Park, having scouted the 20-year-old in the U21s. They can offer Bondswell opportunities to get match time in League One or League Two, with his path to any Premier League minutes blocked.

Howe retained Matt Targett following his half-season on loan from Aston Villa for £15m in June. The Toon manager can also use Jamal Lewis, Paul Dummett, Matt Ritchie and Javier Manquillo at left-back. But Howe did afford Bondswell chances to feature over pre-season.

Bondswell stunned Kieran Trippier with how the former Nottingham Forest and RB Leipzig prospect performed in July’s defeat to Benfica, too. Trippier told NUFC TV after the fixture how he believed the Nottingham-born talent had produced an ‘outstanding’ second-half.

Bondswell will want more than ill-fated Shrewsbury switch

Howe introduced Bondswell in place of Targett as the summer signing sustained an injury against Benfica. But the Toon boss is unlikely to afford the Magpies’ 2021 signing a host of further senior chances, given the wealth of senior experience he has available on Tyneside.

So, Newcastle could accept an offer from the League One and Two teams interested in his loan, in order for Bondswell to get regular first-team minutes under his belt. That was also their aim this January, when the full-back headed to Shrewsbury Town in a last-ditch deal.

But Bondswell only occupied a backup position at Montgomery Waters Meadow during a brief League One stay. A situation that saw Newcastle recall him in March, with Chronicle Live noting at the time that head coach Steve Cotterill overlooked him – despite being fit.