Edgar told he must stay put

Mar 5 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

DAVID Edgar has been forced to accept he will be unable to go out on loan this season as Newcastle United struggle to stay in the Premier League.

Edgar, who was captain of the reserves in their 3-0 win over Everton on Monday night, has been frustrated by his lack of first-team opportunities this season.

The Canadian made five appearances for the senior side last season but has been unable to make any sort of impression this term and was worried his career was stagnating in the reserves.

That prompted a number of Championship clubs to enquire about taking the 20-year-old on loan, including former manager Glenn Roeder at Norwich, while Ipswich Town and Plymouth were also interested.

Those bids were rejected by Kevin Keegan in January and Edgar insisted he is willing to bide his time and assess the situation again in the summer.

He said: “I think I’m probably going to end up staying here until the summer and we’ll see what happens in pre-season. I’ve had a chat with the gaffer and he told me where I stand about stuff.

“I’ve just got to keep working hard. Hopefully performances in the reserves will show I can make the grade, but we’ll see.

“I know a couple of teams came in for me but the gaffer can’t afford to let me go at the minute. It has been the same all season – I’ve been in the reserves, but they can’t afford to let me go because they may need me.

“But I’ve had a chat with him and I’m happy with the way things stand. We need to be safe and I think we’re definitely going to be safe. But that is the main thing first and, who knows, maybe he can give me a chance then.

“I want to stay and I would love to get a chance.

“Hopefully, if I do, I’ll never need to look back and keep playing. That is my goal and I want to stay at Newcastle United and not leave.”

Edgar has been an impressive figure for the second string for much of the season and it would appear as though he and striker Andy Carroll are the two fringe players with the best chance of making an immediate impression on the first team.

Carroll has been on the bench for several games under Keegan, although Kazenga LuaLua is another youngster who has been involved with the first team this season. Edgar, though, is convinced that 19-year-old Carroll has everything needed to become a top Premier League striker following his return from a loan spell at Preston North End.

Edgar said: “He is the hardest player to play against. He was up against a Premiership player in Anthony Gardner and he’s just bullied him, to be honest. He didn’t lose a header and that’s Andy, every game and every training session. He’s doing very well.

“The last two games we had to play without Andy for the reserves and he gives you that option to play long. Not route one football, but if you get it up to him he can bring it down and we can play off him.

“We did that especially in the second half, whereas in the first half we weren’t getting it down very well.

“It was good to get a win at St James’s Park, even if it was only a reserve game.”