The potential of Adam Armstrong seems to be one that has been on everybody’s lips for quite some time now – but so far, the Blackburn Rovers loanee is yet to be given a chance to show his worth at St. James’ Park.
Since bursting onto the scene in 2014 with positive showings in the League Cup, the Newcastle United academy graduate was supposed to be the next big thing to emerge from the youth system.
Since then, he has been farmed out on a succession of loan spells – forced to cut his teeth in the lower divisions. While he has struggled in the Championship, he has proven to be one of League One’s most lethal marksmen – 20 for Coventry during the 15/16 campaign and seven in 12 outings for Blackburn Rovers this term.
He has been tipped by his Rovers’ team-mate Bradley Dack to make the grade at St. James’ Park, and with Mike Ashley seemingly unwilling to fork out for a proven top-flight striker – perhaps next season will finally provide Armstrong with that elusive chance.
Now whether Armstrong, at the tender age of 21, and with very limited top-flight exposure under his belt, is the answer – only time will tell. But the boy has paid his dues, and surely deserves a fair crack of the whip at the club which thrust him into the spot-light four years ago.