Eddie Howe has called up an 18-year-old defender to first-team training ahead of Newcastle United’s game against Tottenham Hotspur.
The Magpies take on Spurs at St James’ Park on Saturday, and a win could temporarily lift them up to sixth in the Premier League. That is where Newcastle want to be, as it would mean Europa League football on Tyneside next season.
It will be quite the achievement if Newcastle qualify for Europe given the amount of injuries they have had. It has forced Eddie Howe to turn to the youth squad, with multiple teenagers getting the opportunity to be with the first-team.
Lewis Miley has emerged as a star, while the likes of Alex Murphy and Ben Parkinson have made their senior debuts. Elsewhere, Alfie Harrison got a chance to train with the first-team just months after the 18-year-old arrived from Manchester City.
Newcastle United teenager called up to first-team training ahead of Tottenham
And now another 18-year-old has been given a chance to prove himself alongside Newcastle United’s senior stars.
The club have released 29 training photos to their official website from Wednesday’s session, with the likes of Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes preparing for the game against Spurs.
And they were joined by Cathal Heffernan, an 18-year-old centre-back who joined the club from AC Milan last summer.
The Irish defender can be seen in picture number five, as he chases down Fabian Schar.
Newcastle are short of centre-backs right now
Newcastle are currently shy of centre-backs, with Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles both currently injured. They suffered ACL injuries last month, and are going to be out for between six and nine months.
It means that Schar and Dan Burn are Newcastle’s only fit senior centre-backs, although Emil Krafth and Paul Dummett are also capable of playing there.
That is why Heffernan will have been called up, and he will have ambitions of getting a place on the bench in the Premier League between now and the end of the season.
Joe Willock missing from Toon training photos
One man who does not feature in Newcastle’s training photos ahead of facing Tottenham is Joe Willock.
He started the win over Fulham, but was forced off during the first half with an injury. Eddie Howe admitted that the midfielder did not look right at Craven Cottage, and it remains to be seen if he will be available this weekend.
If not, Elliot Anderson will likely start in midfield alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Sean Longstaff.
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