Eddie Howe could potentially have spotted the next player to graduate from the Newcastle United academy into the first-team having been impressed by 17-year-old Shaun Mavididi.
After joining from Arsenal in 2021, Shaun Mavididi signed a two-year scholarship with Newcastle which is now coming to an end.
The good news for Mavididi is that he’s seemingly impressed enough during his scholarship that he will now be offered his first professional contract according to TEAMtalk.
Mavididi is one of the Under 18s who is buying into the process
Mavididi is already making a name for himself in the youth side helping himself to a couple of goals last season in his 24 appearances for the Under 18s.
Eddie Howe keeps a close eye on things at all levels of the club and if he feels Mavididi continues to move in the right direction he could be fast-tracked into the first-team set up.
Since the arrival of Dan Ashworth the aim has always been to develop young players so that they can rise through the ranks and into the senior side with as little disruption as possible to the way they train and play, so it absolutely makes sense that Howe would keep watch over the youngsters to see who is buying into the club philosophy.
Eddie Howe is not adverse to giving youth players a chance
I wouldn’t expect to be seeing Mavididi’s name on the first-team roster at any point this season, but if he continues to impress, it won’t be too long before Eddie Howe gives him his opportunity to show what he can do.
We have seen it already with Howe calling up Lewis Miley to train with the first-team and ultimately being handed his first-team debut.
Hard work is rewarded at Newcastle and that’s the way it should be. For too long we’ve failed our youngsters and it’s great to see that coming to an end.
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