Eddie Howe watches potential Kieran Trippier replacement as Newcastle United prepare to face Manchester City

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It is important that Eddie Howe develops players from the Newcastle United academy and moulds them into first-team stars.

He has done that with Lewis Miley, who is now a fully fledged first-team player at Newcastle United rather than a youth prospect. That is a testament to his ability, as well as the work that Eddie Howe has done with him.

The club will want more players to follow Miley’s path, and that is why some of the Magpies’ youngsters regularly train with the first-team.

That has been the case this week, with Sean Neave spotted in training ahead of Newcastle United’s game against Manchester City on Saturday. The 17-year-old was an unused substitute during the FA Cup win over Birmingham City last weekend.

Newcastle United teenager trains ahead of Manchester City trip

However, Neave is not the only Newcastle United youngster who has been part of the senior setup this week.

Leo Shahar has also been spotted training with the Newcastle United first-team ahead of facing Manchester City, as Howe casts his eye over the 17-year-old right-back.

Newcastle signed the defender from Wolves in 2023, and he signed his first professional Toon contract in 2024.

Shahar looks poised to break through at Newcastle in the near future, and it is great to see him involved in first-team training at such a young age.

Leo Shahar could replace Kieran Trippier at Newcastle United

Shahar’s presence in the Newcastle United academy comes at a time when the Magpies need to start formalising plans to replace Kieran Trippier.

The 34-year-old defender almost left the club in January, with Galatasaray interested in signing Trippier.

In the end, Trippier decided to stay at Newcastle, but his future will most likely be up in the air once again when the summer transfer window arrives.

Replacing Trippier will not be easy. He is an extremely experienced player who is so valuable to the Magpies. In truth, Newcastle will probably not be able to get a like-for-like replacement.

But Shahar is certainly a player who can follow in Trippier’s footsteps. Shahar’s crossing ability is outstanding, while he has been a captain at youth level. It will take time, but he can eventually fill the void that Trippier will leave.

He turns 18-years-old in March, and it will be interesting to see how long it takes him to become a permanent first-team player at St James’ Park. Given Shahar’s potential, it is surely a case of ‘when’, rather than ‘if’.