Newcastle United player’s inclusion in Under-21 defeat to Southampton suggests he could be off

Add as preferred source on Google

Newcastle United’s Under-21s got their Premier League 2 season up and running with a game against Southampton, which featured first-team players.

When the lineup for the Young Magpies game was revealed, there was an air of excitement amongst the fans. The starting XI was brimming with quality, with the likes of Sean Neave, Travis Hernes and Anthony Munda all taking up a spot.

Two players had been heavily involved during Newcastle United’s pre-season. Lewis Hall got some minutes for the Under-21s while he continues to build fitness after returning from his ankle injury.

Elsewhere, Seung-soo Park was named on the bench for Newcastle’s draw with Aston Villa, though he did not make it onto the pitch. The 18-year-old winger started on the left wing for Newcastle’s Under-21s.

While all eyes were on the likes of Hall and Park, another name on the teamsheet was Harrison Ashby. The right-back was around the first team throughout pre-season, but was nowhere to be seen for the Villa game.

• READ MORE – Dan Burn issues an update after bizarre injury scare away from Newcastle United

Harrison Ashby could be set for loan move after Newcastle United Under-21s appearance

To the surprise of many, Ashby started in Newcastle’s 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid in pre-season, playing as a midfielder.

Eddie Howe praised Ashby’s attitude after the Atletico loss, making some wonder if he was going to be in the first team picture for the 2025/26 campaign. However, it was evident that his pre-season minutes were nothing more than filling in as a midfielder while a replacement for Sean Longstaff and the injured Joe Willock was found.

Newcastle have now signed Jacob Ramsey, so their midfield depth problems have been suppressed to a degree.

Ashby has spent the last two seasons out on loan, and, with him playing in the reserves, it looks like he could be sent out for a third successive season. Now 23, Ashby will be keen to take the next step in his career and play week in, week out in a top league. Unfortunately, it does not look like that will happen at Newcastle.

• READ MORE – Who is Harrison Ashby? Newcastle United’s £3m right-back who might have one last chance to impress

Newcastle United transfer rumour could see Harrison Ashby move up the pecking order

Ashby was given a squad number at Newcastle for the new season, but his No.30 could soon be available if Howe decides to loan him out.

Newcastle are not lacking in right-backs, with Emil Krafth able to fill in should the likes of Tino Livramento and Kieran Trippier be unavailable.

While Newcastle are not actively looking to sell any of their top stars, a recent report stated that Ligue 1 side AS Monaco are interested in Trippier this summer.

The former England international is now 34 with a year left on his contract, but Howe is still a big fan of Trippier and is reluctant to let him go.

Should that deal come to fruition, Ashby would become the likely second choice to Livramento at right-back. He may need to fight Krafth for the spot, but his age makes him a better candidate long-term, even if his future looks bleak.