Youngsters could rescue Newcastle if given chance

Jun 29 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

NEWCASTLE United Academy director Richard Money believes the club’s crop of emerging talent will fill the void created by the exodus of their big earners – if the new manager gives them the chance.

United’s squad reports back for pre-season this week to a club racked by uncertainty, with Alan Shearer unlikely to have been appointed by Wednesday’s return date and new owners up to a fortnight away from taking over.

With the squad set to disband and time running out to bring in seasoned replacements, the new United boss will have little choice but to rely heavily on a clutch of precocious players who were playing reserve and youth team football last season.

The loss of Michael Owen and Mark Viduka – plus the hoped-for departures of up to ten of last season’s squad – has created first-team opportunities, and Money believes many of the teenagers he has mentored are ready to play a major role in the club’s Championship campaign.

Striker Nile Ranger, midfielders Shane Ferguson and Brad Inman, defender Tamas Kadar and winger Kazenga LuaLua have all been earmarked to step up this season – and Shearer was understood to be impressed by the work done in the Academy set-up during his short time in charge.

For while United have been reticent to promote from within over recent years, homegrown players Steven Taylor, Andy Carroll and David Edgar all made prominent contributions to the last campaign.

With the days of prominent internationals signing for United over – albeit for the time being – Money anticipates a role for some of the youngsters waiting in the wings. “It is obviously difficult at this time

because there is no manager and no owners at the club and it depends on what the investment policy is,” he said.

“But the thing that we have got at this club is some very good talent aged between 17 and 19 and given the chance, I believe they will prove they are good enough.

“The likes of Ranger, Ferguson, Brad Inman – they are playing international football which suggests that they will be able to push on very quickly next season, and it obviously helps those players that we are in the Championship next season.