Newcastle could unleash their own Nwaneri who’s “one of the best” prospects

This might be a major season for Newcastle United.

Eddie Howe’s aspect might be cup champions this time subsequent month, into the Carabao Cup closing in opposition to Liverpool. They’ve additionally arrange a last-16 tie with Brighton within the FA Cup, with Manchester’s two behemoths the one remaining groups from the Premier League’s recognised ‘large six.’

That time period is more and more outmoded, with Newcastle qualifying for the Champions League in 2022/23, Aston Villa following their path final time period and Nottingham Forest presently ensconced in third, 18 factors above Man United.

Newcastle undoubtedly have a workforce able to hitting large heights, not punching above their weight however recognised as a fear-inducing opponent.

And alongside the exploits of the primary workforce, the Magpies youth fold is making thrilling progress too.

Newcastle’s new-found academy success

Do-it-yourself superstars had been a rarity on Tyneside earlier than Howe and PIF got here alongside. Six years in the past, beneath the tyrannical rule of Mike Ashley, Newcastle’s academy was noticed to be in a ‘determined state’, however that has now modified.

Sean Longstaff was established and Elliott Anderson was coming by way of when every part modified in 2021, however the shift at youth degree has since gone from energy to energy,

The infrastructure has been revamped, with now-former sporting director Dan Ashworth appointing 13 new academy workers members to rewrite the narrative in regards to the membership’s manufacturing line.

Now, there’s a lot to be enthusiastic about because the system blossoms as an entire. Lewis Miley is a fiercely thrilling expertise, whereas Anderson was bought to Nottingham Forest final summer season for £35m. Yankuba Minteh additionally joined Brighton in a £30m deal to placate PSR.

Newcastle’s U21s sit 14th within the Premier League 2, having completed twenty second final time period and achieved promotion the yr earlier than that. That is incremental progress.

Not simply selling from town, United are signing thrilling up-and-comers to suffuse the formative ranks with a golden glow. Let’s take a look at a younger ahead who may simply be the choose of the bunch.

Howe might have “among the best prospects on this planet”

St. James’ Park has appealed to among the most enjoyable senior stars in England – Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes et al., however the identical could be stated for these on the backside of the pack.

Vakhtang Salia is without doubt one of the most enjoyable Georgian gamers to emerge since Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and it is a testomony to Newcastle’s progress that he opted for Howe’s workforce final yr regardless of curiosity from Bayern Munich and Actual Madrid.

Aged 17, Salia has already posted seven targets and two assists throughout 39 senior appearances for Dinamo Tbilisi, with journalist Bence Bocsak duly describing him as an “elite expertise.”

A cellular and threatening ahead, {the teenager} has but to seek out his greatest place however is routinely deployed on the left flank. He may present reduction throughout the frontline after becoming a member of United in August when he turns 18.

Who is aware of, with such excessive inventory, Salia may assert himself as one of the crucial gifted kids within the Premier League subsequent season, possibly even rivalling Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri.

A real prodigy, 17-year-old Nwaneri has made waves at Arsenal over the previous a number of years, changing into the youngest participant in Premier League historical past when launched in opposition to Brentford in September 2022 (aged 15 years and 181 days), and correctly breaking into Mikel Arteta’s plans this yr.

A right-sided participant, he is scored seven instances throughout 24 matches, instrumental in preserving the Gunners afloat with talisman Bukayo Saka sidelined for over a month and never anticipated to return any time quickly.

Growth is not linear however Salia is doing all that he can in his homeland, sharpening his instruments to a eager edge earlier than crossing over to Newcastle. With a natural-born goalscoring capability and dynamism that sees him place throughout completely different roles, Howe may simply discover that he can introduce a rival to Arsenal’s talk-of-the-town expertise.

Journalist Graeme Bailey has hailed Salia as “among the best teenage prospects on this planet,” and when he alights in Newcastle later this yr, there’s each likelihood that he may make a quick begin and present Howe that he is unearthed a rising star simply as brilliant as Nwaneri.