As Newcastle United’s injury crisis continues, many are wondering why youngsters like Sean Neave have not been thrown fully into the fray this season.
Eddie Howe has seen his first-team squad depleted by a number of injuries to key players who would normally be in the starting XI. The likes of Nick Pope, Dan Burn and Tino Livramento have been missing in defence, while Yoane Wissa and Will Osula have been absent in attack.
Eddie Howe’s stance on using Newcastle United’s academy players. Does he do it often enough?
While we have seen Lewis Miley make a big breakthrough in the senior squad this season to help solve the injury issues, youth stars like Sean Neave, Sam Alabi, and Leo Shahar have only managed to make it to the fringes of the squad.
So, will we see Neave and his young colleagues get their chance soon? And why has Howe made the Newcastle United starlets wait so long?
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Is Sean Neave ready to play centre-forward?
Well, as per Chris Waugh at The Athletic, that very topic has been cleared up with an explanation as to why Neave has not featured as much as some would have liked.
Waugh said: “With Neave, while he has been training with the first-team squad for much of 2025 and has genuine admirers among Newcastle’s coaches, including Howe, he is not deemed ready to make the step up yet.
“Neave made a couple of cameos in pre-season friendlies and already has a League Cup winners’ medal, but he has not made a competitive appearance, despite being in multiple matchday squads, and there is a strong possibility he will be sent out on loan next month.
“The plan with Neave, like with Leo Shahar, was to keep him on Tyneside for the first half of the season to bolster training numbers for the senior squad and to gain European experience in the UEFA Youth League. But the hope is that, should an appropriate club be found, the 18-year-old forward can gain invaluable first-team moments on loan.”
That’s not all. We know the Newcastle United academy ace is versatile enough to play a number of positions, but that flexibility may well have held Neave back when it comes to stepping in for the likes of Wissa and Osula.
Waugh added: “Neave is not necessarily an out-and-out No 9. He does see that as his own position, but he can also play as a No 10 and even as a No 8, so that may be another reason why he has not been thrown on at centre-forward for the first team.”
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Is Sam Alabi ready for more minutes?
His big chance is coming, surely!
Eddie Howe has been impressed by Sam Alabi. We think he’s ready for a proper chance at Newcastle. Do you agree? 🤔
FA Cup third round is perfect time to give Sean Neave a chance
Eddie Howe spoke about protecting young players this week, in particular referencing Sam Alabi, who has also been getting closer and closer to first-team action.
But, it’s important to remember not all youth players are ready to follow in Lewis Miley’s footsteps. Still, there’s certainly scope for Neave, Shahar, Alabi and others to step up, albeit briefly, this season.
You have to look at the FA Cup third round tie against Bournemouth as a suitable time to give some of the youngsters a chance. Whether that’s starting the game or not is another matter, but surely Howe will give them some minutes off the bench.
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