Newcastle United academy latest
Sean Neave of Newcastle United
Anthony Munda became the first of Newcastle United’s Under-21 squad to secure a temporary move earlier this week, completing a season-long switch to League Two club Swindon Town.
The highly-regarded midfielder appears unlikely to be the only young Magpies player to gain an opportunity away from St James Park this campaign, with United’s management facing significant decisions regarding numerous academy prospects.
Just a year ago, Sean Neave and Leo Shahar were drawing substantial interest from clubs throughout the EFL before Newcastle opted to keep the pair and include them in first-team training sessions to monitor their progression closely.
Both players made fleeting senior appearances during the Champions League play-off tie against Qarabag, before featuring for Robbie Stockdale’s Under-21 side during the closing months of the campaign.
Nevertheless, Neave and Shahar have featured throughout the senior team’s pre-season preparations and find themselves in a comparable situation heading into competitive fixtures.
While both players remain highly valued by Newcastle’s leadership, they appear to require regular senior football and their development may not benefit from another six months or full season within the Under-21 environment.
Interest from EFL clubs intensified throughout last season, with scouts from the Championship, League One and League Two regularly tracking their advancement throughout the campaign.
That interest persists and Newcastle may well receive approaches for Neave and Shahar over the coming fortnight.
Leo Shahar of Newcastle United
Wingers to monitor
Two additional academy products who featured with the senior side during the summer were Trevan Sanusi and Matheos Ferreira, both aiming to make their mark at Under-21 level this season.
Sanusi found the loan spell with Lorient challenging last term but has returned strongly for the Magpies’ Under-21s, finding the net three times in three matches.
He contributed a goal and an assist during Tuesday’s National League Cup loss to Tamworth, a fixture that also saw Matheos Ferreira in action.
Ferreira impressed last season with a hat-trick in an FA Youth Cup victory over Portsmouth and another treble upon stepping up to Under-21 level against Aston Villa.
The young player, eligible to represent England, Brazil or Italy, appeared in senior friendlies against Gateshead and Bristol City this summer and is determined to achieve his goal of making a Premier League debut for his childhood club.
The teenager explained in Newcastle’s official matchday programme that he felt comfortable when coming on as a substitute against Gateshead recently, not feeling overwhelmed or anxious in that moment and instead feeling eager to get on the pitch and play football. He made another first-team appearance at Bristol City which provided a valuable experience in front of 3,000 away supporters at a quality stadium.
He described it as just the beginning, expressing desire for more such chances and commitment to continuing hard work to reach that target. He mentioned setting new objectives daily and maintaining consistency, feeling in strong condition both physically and mentally after putting in significant work on his fitness during the close season and remaining fully focused on what lies ahead.
He hopes to keep delivering strong performances and influencing matches for the Under-21s this season while pursuing additional opportunities with the senior side and seeing where that leads. Making a Premier League debut for his boyhood club would represent a dream fulfilled.
Joelinton passes the ball as Matheos Ferreira defends
Cordero’s Cadiz contribution
Antonio Cordero returned to Cadiz during the summer on another season-long loan arrangement and has made an immediate impression since going back to his home country.
During pre-season, the skilled winger struck free-kicks in consecutive matches and he completed the full match in Cadiz’s opening Segunda Liga fixture against Celta Vigo II at the weekend.
The 19-year-old, who arrived from Malaga last summer, is expected to enjoy a significant season in Spain before returning to Tyneside where his contract runs until 2030.
Antonio Cordero in action for Cadiz
Former academy defender settled with non-league neighbours
One of the notable stories from the North East non-league scene over the past decade has been the emergence of Hebburn Town.
The South Tyneside club came close to folding as recently as 2017 while competing in Northern League Division Two, the tenth tier of English football, with attendances in the double figures.
A fundraising campaign was launched, local entrepreneurs became involved in the club, and they have since achieved success in the Durham Challenge Cup and FA Vase. However, genuine progress has come through league competition, with Hebburn securing four promotions over the last eight years and last season’s surprise Northern Premier League Premier Division championship taking them into the National League North for the first time in their history.
Former Newcastle United Academy defender Joe Oliver, who played alongside Elliot Anderson and Joe White during his time at the academy, moved to the Hornets last summer and has started all three of their matches in the sixth tier this season.
Despite some difficult fixtures, Oliver’s side have collected seven points from home victories over Southport and Worksop Town and an away result at Brackley Town – and the former Magpies youngster has performed well throughout a remarkable start to a landmark season.
He has stated that he has settled in well at Hebburn.
Following their midweek success against Worksop, Oliver, who works as a community coach with the Newcastle United Foundation, informed Chronicle Live that he believes this represents the most enjoyment he has experienced throughout his career, attributing that feeling to the squad, management, atmosphere and environment at the club.
He explained that he has found a home there, noting that everyone bonds together, they possess that core unity and the manager does not make many changes, which strengthens the togetherness they enjoy.