CHECKATRADE TROPHY 3RD ROUND, KO 7.45
TOON’S KIDS TAKE ON FULL SUNDERLAND SIDE IN ‘NO LOSE’ TROPHY CLASH AS THEY STRIVE TO BE NEXT BIG THING
BEN DAWSON is showing Newcastle’s Under-21 players clips of their breakaway goals as he looks ahead to the most unusual Wear-Tyne derby ever.
The Newcastle academy coach takes his kids to the Stadium of Light tonight to face League One Sunderland’s senior side with a date at Wembley on the cards.
It is a quirky clash thrown up by the Mackems’ relegation to the third tier last season and entry into the Checkatrade Trophy, where Premier League clubs enter their youth teams.
Mirror Football spent the day with Dawson and his squad, attending staff meetings, tactical briefings, a training session and conditioning work to find out how a junior players can challenge title-chasing league opponents – and find where the next Andy Carroll or Shola Ameobi is coming from.
Can Newcastle win this derby? “It’s a no-lose situation,” said Dawson. “There is no pressure on us. It will be a great step in their development.
“Can we compete? Yes. We are not expected to win, but we can.
“If we were a League One team, consistency would be a big challenge.
“We would be nowhere near the top like Sunderland are, but we would give it a good go in the bottom half.”
Dawson and his backroom staff, including goalkeeping coach Steve Harper, analysts and physios, are meticulous.
The aim? To develop the 138 lads in their system for Rafa Benitez’s squad or get them professional careers elsewhere.
Some 31 Newcastle lads have made debuts in the senior ranks in the last decade – with £35million Carroll the most valuable. Below a tactics board showing the names of the hopefuls, Dawson said: “Last season was a shock to the lads. We released a lot of players.
“They realised they are not having a kickabout with their mates. They bump into those lads now, working at Costco.”
Over the fields, Dawson points to Benitez’s first team, a constant reminder on the horizon to his squad.
Sean Longstaff, whose brother Matty is in the U-21s, made the leap a few weeks ago and played in the FA Cup against Blackburn.
Dawson said: “We say to them, ‘If you want to be up there you have to be able to take someone’s shirt. Be better or be
different. Are you better than Florian Lejeune? Or Salomon Rondon or DeAndre Yedlin?’
“They need to have a great awareness of where they are. Some come in and say they want to go on loan. I say who wants you? Er... well, there’s your first hurdle. Then it is, ‘OK, you have someone interested, what shape do they play? Do you know they play two in midfield and have five in their squad?’ “You make them aware of how hard it is. The keepers are even tougher – 92 league clubs, one position. Are you better than anyone in the Prem? No. Championship? We’re down to League One and The ones to watch Elias Eli Matty LONGSTAFF Kell
Two and the 48 there. Where can you go? It is a tough world. We teach them to work hard and harder. Sean Longstaff has been an example of that.
“We give them the Navy Seals quote – ‘You don’t rise to the occasion, you sink to the level of your training when under pressure’. That will be needed in the Sunderland game.”
The staff research how players get to the senior ranks, spotting patterns and finding out what works.
Dawson insists his group have not got too much too young.
He added: “The lads are grounded. The hunger is there. We value honesty, discipline, respect, humility.” Nathan HARKER Liam Mo SANGARE