Would Stuart Findlay have been better off at Celtic than Newcastle United?

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Stuart Findlay has struggled for opportunities at Newcastle United, just a year after making the move from Celtic.

It takes a brave man to leave Celtic at the age of just 20. Yet, Stuart Findlay’s move to Newcastle United last summer is yet to reap its rewards.

The Scotland Under-21 international may have hoped that first-team opportunities would be more forthcoming at St James’ Park. But, after 12 months on Tyneside, Findlay is still some distance away from breaking into Rafael Benitez’s first-team plans.

“Next year is all about pushing on, whether it’s for the Under-23s or going out on loan,” Findlay told the Shields Gazette. “Hopefully, I can do what needs to be done.”

Former Celtic youngster Stuart Findlay

A loan move would certainly aid his development. After all, Findlay has only featured once in Newcastle colours, a January FA Cup tie with Birmingham City. And manager Rafael Benitez has intimated that the club’s young players face a challenge earning his trust.

“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,” the Spaniard, who loaned out the likes of Adam Armstrong, Ivan Toney and Freddie Woodman last season, told the Sunderland Echo recently.

“If you want to do that you have to bring in players from outside, or abroad, to compete with the other teams.”

Opportunity missed?

That does not bode well for Findlay’s first-team prospects – particularly as The Magpies appear to have made signing a new centre-back a top priority this summer. Furthermore, Paul Dummett is the most recent example of a young player cementing his place in Newcastle’s first-team – and he made his debut five years ago.

Therefore, with the benefit of hindsight, you wonder whether the centre-back would have been better off remaining at Celtic. Brendan Rodgers has stuck with the ‘if you’re good enough you’re old enough’ adage.

The likes of Anthony Ralston and Michael Johnstone were given their first-team debuts by Rodgers last season while few managers in Britain can match his track record for getting the best out of young players.

With his opportunities at Newcastle looking slim for now, perhaps Findlay would have been better off at Celtic.