While Newcastle United are yet to win on their pre-season tour of America, its certainly been a productive trip.
Sandro Tonali is getting valuable gametime alongside his new teammates while Harvey Barnes has been handed a debut.
Playing against Premier League-level opposition can only be a good thing as Eddie Howe prepares for a huge season at Newcastle.
There have also been some runouts for some players looking to force their way into the first-team reckoning.
Indeed, Lewis Miley has been hailed by Bruno Guimaraes and now looks set to stay next season.
Still, the 17-year-old is not the only youngster impressing his teammates.
Kieran Trippier namechecks another Newcastle player after draw with Chelsea
With Miley starring, it’s easy to focus on him.
Captain Kieran Trippier, however, was eager to namecheck young Alex Murphy for his performance too after he replaced Fabian Schar.
Speaking NBC Sports, as relayed by the club’s official website, after the draw in Atlanta, Trippier said: “I think coming from behind again we showed great togetherness. I thought the young boys done unbelievable today, Alex and Lewy, against top quality opposition.”
There’s an opening for Murphy this season
Though it’s difficult to imagine the 19-year-old suddenly forcing his way into what was one of the Premier League’s best defences last season, there would appear to be an opening.
Able to operate in either central defence or at left-back, the club haven’t yet signed any players there.
With an increased schedule next season, perhaps Murphy can realistically hope for game time, even if not particularly regularly.
Unless Newcastle go out and sign a left-back and a centre-back (which looks difficult given FFP constraints), the squad isn’t exactly the deepest around.
In Miley and Elliot Anderson, Howe has shown a willingness to trust developing talent in his first-team.
Should he keep impressing, there’s little reason why Murphy can’t be involved.
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