Newcastle United are reportedly interested in Sheffield Wednesday youngster George Hirst – though they are not the only one.
George Hirst may be just 18 years of age, with just one senior league appearance under his belt, but he is already facing one of the most important periods of his professional career.
According to the Daily Mail, the Sheffield Wednesday starlet is on the radar of a number of England’s biggest clubs with Arsenal, Manchester United, Newcastle and Everton all expressing their interest. And the report indicates that Leicester City have made the first move, having a £1 million bid rejected by Wednesday.
David Hirst is a bonafide legend at Wednesday – but how much longer will his son stick around?
Hirst, son of former England striker David, is one of the most exciting prospects in English football. He excelled at the prodigious Toulon Tournament this summer as England’s Under-18s went home with the trophy, scoring four times to make him the competition’s joint top scorer.
Therefore, his next destination, if indeed he does move on this summer, is hugely important. It may not be ‘make or break’ but the right club could help Hirst realise his potential and provide a path to the first team. The wrong one, however, could leave him stagnating in the reserves like so many talented prospects before him who have fallen by the wayside.
Therefore, it’s tempting to think that Newcastle United, in particular, would be the wrong club for a raw, teenage talent. Though one of the most historic, proud clubs in English football, embarking on an exciting project under Rafael Benitez, it’s fair to say they don’t have a great record when it comes to giving young players a chance.
And Benitez’s honest admission, made midway through last season, should make Hirst think twice if Newcastle come calling.
Benitez has given youngsters only fleeting opportunities at Newcastle
“The ideal situation would be to bring a couple of players from the academy each year but if you want to compete at the highest level it is difficult,” Rafael Benitez told the Sunderland Echo. “If you want to do that you have to bring in players from outside, or abroad, to compete with the other teams.”
With Adam Armstrong farmed out again and Ivan Toney’s future uncertain, Hirst should realise that talented young strikers don’t necessarily get the chances they deserve at St James’ Park.
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