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Alan Pardew names five young Newcastle international stars of the future

9 years ago
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Alan Pardew has said that while Tyneside has been a great area for producing young players down the years, in the last decade the cupboard has been pretty bare.

However, the Newcastle manager thinks the corner has been turned, with a number of players having a great chance for both club and country.

Pardew has named five players for special attention, four who have now played for the first team and one making great strides in keeper Freddie Woodman;

“Newcastle is a great area but we haven’t produced many players over the last 10 years.

“For the first time we are seeing real buds of success, local boys, something we are very proud of.

“We are no longer just a French team.

Five to follow;

“We have Freddie Woodman, Adam Armstrong, Rolando Aarons who are all highly rated by England. I am not saying these guys are going to be future England internationals but they have a chance.

“Paul Dummett is already a Welsh international, Sammy Ameobi has played for the Under-21s.”

Not being pedantic but I do think it is worth mentioning that two of Newcastle’s three England prospects came from Crystal Palace (Woodman) and Bristol City (Aarons), so claiming them as ‘local boys’ isn’t exactly true.

Nothing wrong of course with United casting their net further afield because the reality is that if the really top talent isn’t on your doorstep then you have to add from elsewhere. However, United are currently desperately trying to show that local talent is coming through now – in the likes of Adam Armstrong hopefully that is true but pinching the likes of Aarons and Woodman from under the noses of other more ‘local’ clubs is also a reason to celebrate. The club and Alan Pardew should understand that sticking to the truth isn’t always a negative.

While it is also worth pointing out that in the last five years, Newcastle United’s Academy has actually produced two Geordies who have gone on to play for England.

Many of you may think that there were valid reasons for letting both go; the over the top fee offered for Andy Carroll and Tim Krul standing in Fraser Forster’s way.

However, that doesn’t change the fact that United’s Academy has developed England level players and the challenge/worry must be whether the ambition will be there to keep hold of the likes of Adam Armstrong and Adam Armstrong.

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