Edgar is tired of playing bit part

Feb 16 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

PROMISING Newcastle United centre-back David Edgar is a transfer target for three Championship clubs as the Canadian defender grows increasingly frustrated by a lack of first-team football at Newcastle United.

Norwich, Ipswich and Plymouth have all shown an interest in the 20-year-old, who has not made a first-team appearance since he came on as a late substitute in the 2-0 Carling Cup win over Barnsley in August despite some excellent performances for the reserves.

The Canadian Under-20 international had enquired about a possible loan move under former manager Sam Allardyce, but was refused permission to leave and has also made his feelings known to new boss Kevin Keegan.

Although Edgar does not want to leave the club where he made his name with a dramatic equaliser against next week’s opponents, Manchester United, on New Year’s Day last year, he is aware of the fact that a prolonged spell of first-team football would benefit his development far more than staying in the reserves.

Circumstances, however, appear to have conspired against him, as United are short on numbers and Keegan has already insisted this week that he cannot afford to weaken his senior squad by letting any of his youngsters leave.

“David’s heart is with Newcastle United but he is frustrated by a lack of first-team football, and that is a problem,” said his agent, Barry McLean. “He would be better off playing regularly in the first team on loan somewhere, but he also knows numbers are low at Newcastle and that he could get a chance there soon. But there is only so much you can learn playing in the reserves week after week.

“I think we need to sit down with Kevin Keegan and discuss the matter. He is not agitating for a move, he just wants to know where he stands. If he’s not going to play this season, he’d like to prove himself while on loan at another club.

“Ipswich, Norwich and Plymouth have all enquired about him, but Newcastle have not been willing to let him go in January because of the fact there were players away at the African Cup of Nations. David has been stuck between a rock and a hard place this season. I don’t know whether that has changed, but those three clubs would love to have

him. I know Kevin has had other things to deal with as he’s just arrived at the club, but hopefully we can sit down at some point in the next couple of weeks and try to come to an agreement on what the best course of action will be.”

Norwich would appear to be Edgar’s favoured destination as they are managed by ex-Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder, who promoted him to the first team last season. Edgar is also good friends with former Magpies midfielder Matty Pattison, who moved to Carrow Road for £500,000 after a successful loan spell last month.

Edgar, though, has made an early impression on Keegan and The Journal understands the Ontario-born defender has been told he will be involved in his first-team plans in the coming weeks, particularly after the defensive problems highlighted in the 4-1 defeat by Aston Villa last weekend.

Such a chance to impress is likely to appease Edgar in the short-term as Keegan wants to have a good look at all the players he inherited from Allardyce, but it will not end the interest in him from other clubs.

The player was the man of the match against Manchester City’s second string on Monday night in front of a clutch of Championship club scouts, where he was pitted against international pair Emile Mpenza and Valeri Bojinov, and that could be enough to earn him a place on the bench against the Sky Blues’ Manchester rivals next weekend.

Meanwhile, Keegan is expecting one of Edgar’s defensive rivals, Abdoulaye Faye, to have a major impact on the side following his return from the African Cup of Nations. Faye has proven to be one of Allardyce’s better recruits and, with Claudio Caçapa still struggling when he faces a physical centre-forward as he did against Villa’s John Carew last week, Faye is expected to return to the starting line-up against the Red Devils next weekend.

Keegan said: “As far as Abdoulaye is concerned, he is a very good professional and he has done a very good job. He is a big lad and we certainly need some height in the team. But it is not only his height, he has great experience too.”