Despite the negativity engulfing Newcastle United at the start of this season, they have a number of young players – including loan men – with real talent.
The doom and gloom surrounding Newcastle United’s unsuccessful end to the transfer window was thankfully broken by a flurry of international fixtures at the weekend.
And while Rafa Benitez may not be able to call on experienced names when the Premier League returns, there are a number of young stars who have only boosted their reputations in recent days, with Freddie Woodman training with England, Aleksandar Mitrovic (below) scoring for Serbia and Mikel Merino excelling with Spain’s under-21 team.
In the Football League, too, there has been cause for celebration of Newcastle’s youthful talents as a number of loan men continue to impress…
Newcastle have found alternative uses for the loan system this season, shifting unwanted first team stars – Matz Sels, Tim Krul and Achraf Lazaar – while also identifying opportunities for their academy prospects.
Adam Armstrong (below) has found a home in the Championship with Bolton Wanderers despite failing to impress with Barnsley in the same division last season. As he hunts to rediscover the form that saw him hit 20 league goals with Coventry City in 2015-16, he has so far netted twice in the League Cup.
Ivan Toney – another forward with first team experience at St James’ Park – has followed up a solid season with Shrewsbury Town and Scunthorpe United, and then a fine pre-season, by scoring twice for Wigan Athletic in some exciting displays.
Alex Gilliead, meanwhile, at Bradford City for a second consecutive season, is continuing to chalk up regular minutes.
And another League One star is offering Newcastle cause for optimism: Sean Longstaff has four goals in four games for Blackpool.
The 19-year-old midfielder has yet to feature for the Magpies first team but scored three times alongside Woodman and Callum Roberts at Kilmarnock last season and has again looked like a player capable of challenging at St James’ this term.
His stunning quartet of goals have combined pace, power, close ball control and superb finishing to boost Blackpool’s seasonal aspirations.
While certainly not in the same bracket as a Merino just yet, Longstaff could find himself closing in on a debut in black and white when his current loan ends in January.
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