There is an exciting young forward in Newcastle United’s academy who is drawing plenty of attention.
Under PIF, there has been a lot more focus on promoting Newcastle United’s academy and providing a pathway to the first team.
Lewis Miley and Sean Longstaff are role models for those in the academy having made the step up into Eddie Howe’s first team.
The aim is for Newcastle to be “best in class” across every department, and that certainly includes the academy.
PIF have made major improvements to Newcastle’s academy already, and the results are starting to show. Newcastle’s academy has flown up the ranks and is now rated as the 18th best in English football – up from 27th.
Newcastle academy gem Kacey Wooster stars vs Liverpool
Newcastle’s Under-18s were back in action on Saturday, and the youth squad recorded an impressive 3-1 victory over Liverpool’s academy side.
Liverpool took the lead just five minutes in, but Newcastle came racing out the blocks in the second half and flipped the game on its head.
Michael Mills netted the equaliser before 16-year-old striker Kacey Wooster scored a brace to pick up all three points.
Wooster joined Newcastle’s academy in the summer of 2023 from Southend United and he was described to The Chronicle as a “rough diamond”.
At the time, Wooster was only 14, and Southend’s Head of Youth Recruitment said: “Kacey is a little bit raw. That makes him stand out more and you think to yourself, ‘He could be a player. There’s something there with him.'”
Having made the step up to Under-18s football early, Wooster is now starting to fulfil his exciting potential.
Kacey Wooster and Sean Neave target Newcastle breakthrough
Newcastle could be in the market for a striker this summer with Callum Wilson’s future in doubt, but in Wooster and 17-year-old Sean Neave, Howe has two academy stars he could promote.
Neave scored an incredible hat-trick for Newcastle’s Under-18s back in October. Just four months later, Neave was involved in first-team training.
In the FA Cup, Neave was on the bench against Birmingham City, although he did not come on to make his senior debut. However, it seems it is only a matter of time until he gets the nod from Howe.
READ MORE: Eddie Howe calls up Newcastle United youngster who idolises Steven Gerrard to first-team training
Since making the step up from Under-18s to the first team, Wooster has been the one to step up and take Neave’s place, and after his brace against Liverpool he is also making a strong impression.
The teenage duo could well make up an exciting Newcastle strike force over the next decade.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
