Seven goals in seven games: Newcastle teen Dylan Stephenson is flying

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Dylan Stephenson scored in Newcastle United under-23s’ 4-1 win against Middlesbrough to take his tally to seven goals from seven games so far this season.

The 18-year-old has started the season in great form and will be eager to kick on and impress first-team manager Steve Bruce.

Stephenson took his goal well against Borough with a clinical first-time finish into the bottom corner.

But with Callum Wilson out injured and Dwight Gayle the only back-up centre forward Bruce has, it does seem a bit bizarre that Stephenson hasn’t been called up into the first team.

In Wilson’s absence, Allan Saint-Maximin, who is a natural winger, has been operating as a false number nine.

Why hasn’t Bruce called Dylan Stephenson up?

The club’s number 55 is currently the Premier League 2 Division 2 top goalscorer.

After a 3-0 loss against Sheffield Wednesday in their EFL Trophy opener, Stephenson will be hoping to get the club’s cup campaign back on track with a win at Harrogate tomorrow night.

Striker Stephenson joined United’s Academy at the age of 14 from Newcastle City Juniors and signed his professional contract for his boyhood club this summer.

The Blyth-born forward made his under-23s debut at the age of 16 after featuring for Newcastle’s under-21s during their 2019/20 Checkatrade Trophy campaign.

The teenager scored four goals during the under-18s’ run to the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals last season, which included a first-half hat-trick against Leeds United in round four.

Since signing his first pro deal with the Magpies in July 2021, the teenager netted three goals in five pre-season fixtures.

Unlike his under-23s teammate Elliot Anderson who has featured on the bench in the last two Premier League games, Stephenson hasn’t got a look in.

And with Wilson hopefully approaching full fitness ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s visit to St. James’ Park for the first game after the international break, Stephenson has every right to feel disheartened.

All Stephenson can do is keep banging in the goals for the club’s academy sides and hope that Bruce pays him the attention his goalscoring exploits deserve.