Under-23 striker to get new deal

found themselves relegated by nearneighbours Sunderland, but just days later a full stadium turned out and appeared to cheer the team and Rafa Benitez from the rafters as they tore Tottenham apart 5-1.

As much as some football observers like to play down Newcastle United and their fans, it’s not the sort of situation you get anywhere else in football.

Then you have those from outside the city who have the perception that the United faithful are a demanding bunch who want Champions League football or nothing.

Bellamy said: “It’s always the same there. “It always will be the same there. “I remember Sir Bobby Robson, he did a great job up there. They were shouting from the rooftops to get him out. They were the ones booing Alan Pardew.

“Sometimes they need to take a step back.”

The reality on Tyneside is different though. Nobody needs to be reminded by any pundit that hasn’t even been to the city recently that next season will be tough.

The club is currently rebuilding under Rafa Benitez and the controversial “football board” that ultimately pulled Newcastle into the Championship in 2015/16 is no more.

Benitez himself has been realistic about what he can spend and how many players he will need, but also the type of player Newcastle can attract this summer. The word coming out of St James’ at the moment is that Benitez will be backed as promised.

There may even be one or two pleasant surprises in the next transfer window. But it looks like a club that is trying right now.

Despite what those with the notion of Newcastle supporters demanding silverware and Champions League football think, seeing their club attempting to build a team to be proud of is all fans have ever asked for. Chief sports writer NEWCASTLE United are understood to have offered promising young striker Tom Heardman a new deal.

The 21-year-old, who hails from Gosforth, ended last season with seven goals from 14 appearances and looks set to extend his professional deal with the Magpies after impressing in the Under-23 team in the second half of the campaign.

Heardman helped Newcastle finish third in Premier League 2, and played in the play-off final which United lost narrowly to West Ham on a night when the striker scored in a 2-1 defeat.

After the clash with the Hammers, Toon legend and Under-23 coach Peter Beardsley told The Chronicle: “We like him and love everything about him.

“He’s not loud or busy or full of himself. He gets it and he knows he’s not a Mitrovic or Daryl Murphy .

“But he has his own positives, if you like.”

Heardman’s powerful performance in attack also won admiration from the crowd on Tuesday night.

Beardsley added: “They understand football.

“There were times when even just showing effort gets them going.

“Big Tom was a handful all night. There were times when we couldn’t get the ball to him but he tried.

“The crowd love it when people put in maximum effort in. That’s what he always does.

“He’s a person you’d like in your team.”