Newcastle United currently have several young players out on loan until the end of the season.
The January transfer window saw a number of prospects from Newcastle United’s academy join clubs in the EFL to continue their development away from Tyneside.
Alex Murphy has played consistently with Bolton Wanderers in a bid to impress Newcastle boss Eddie Howe and prove he is able to play more often in the Premier League.
Young Scottish defender Charlie McArthur joined Carlisle United. However, McArthur suffered an immediate setback on loan after former Newcastle defender Mike Williamson was sacked by the Blues shortly after joining. With two games to go, Carlisle now look set for relegation to the National League.
Elsewhere, Travis Hernes was ‘disciplined’ away from Newcastle after visiting a nightclub. The 19-year-old, who currently plays for Aalborg, issued a public apology as a result.
While those players continue their development on loan, one Newcastle ace who has gone completely under the radar this season has received high praise from his manager.
Harrison Ashby praised by QPR boss during loan spell
Full-back Harrison Ashby has become a fairly forgotten figure at Newcastle. Joining the club in January 2023, Ashby only played two games for the Magpies under-21s before being sent out on loan to Swansea City last season.
Kieran Trippier told Michael Duff to sign Ashby on loan at Swansea for the 2023/24 season, but the defender’s progress was put on hold multiple times due to injury problems.
Now 23, Ashby is on loan at Championship side QPR this season, where he has made 27 appearances so far, with most of them coming off the bench.
For the last three games, Ashby was given the nod to play at left-back, away from his usual position for QPR, but was taken off after 53 minutes. Despite the early substitution, QPR boss Marti Cifuentes still had high praise for the Newcastle loanee.
“I love Ash’s personality,” Cifuentes told London World after QPR’s 2-1 loss to Swansea on Monday.
“He’s so straight and honest, he wanted to play, he’s playing at high level the last games, which I’m very happy about him because I think there is a big potential on him as a player.
“He’s playing actually very good on the left side, which we know that naturally he’s more right full back than a left one, but he did really well. Then we felt with a yellow card and having Ken on the bench [the sub made sense].”
The piece from London World also claimed that Ashby went off in a ‘strop’. Perhaps due to how early in the game it was.
Paul Mitchell must make Harrison Ashby decision at Newcastle United
As it stands, Ashby is yet to make a competitive appearance for Newcastle’s first-team. His chances of doing so remain slim due to Tino Livramento’s fine form and Trippier’s ability to still play at a high level, despite being 34.
Sporting director Paul Mitchell has the task of making major changes to Howe’s squad this season where there could be as many departures as there is arrivals.
With his market value in decline due to his injury problems and lack of form, Mitchell will be forced to make a big decision on Ashby’s future at Newcastle.
Howe wanted Ashby to continue developing on loan, but it may be too late for the youngster, who many Newcastle fans have forgotten due to his uninspired spells away from the club.
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