Exciting times ahead for young Magpies
BENITEZ ‘BRILLIANT’ WITH BEARDSLEY’S TALENTED UNDER-23 YOUNGSTERS
PETER Beardsley has no qualms about Newcastle United’s work in the transfer market this summer under Rafa Benitez.
The Toon legend is expected to be in charge of the under-23 team again next season and will take charge of a new-look second string side in Premier League Two’s second tier.
Beardsley just failed to win promotion last season after losing narrowly to West Ham in the playoff final at St James’ Park.
However, he will be raring to go again on July 3 and has an interesting summer fixture list lined up for the under-23s with a tournament at Whitby next month featuring Celtic and AZ Alkmaar.
Beardsley is a big fan of Benitez and has assured fans everything will work out for the best this summer.
When asked about the former Liverpool boss, Beardsley said: “He has been brilliant.
“He came in before (reserve) games (last season) and gives these kids as much encouragement as he can. Going forward he has a lot of decisions to make. “Yet you look at the reaction of the city. “He has had a chat with Mike Ashley and he and Mike get on well. “Everybody wants to know what is going on. “They know what is going on and that is all that matters.” Newcastle’s under-23 side will kick off the season at Darlington on July 17 before their clash with Celtic in the semi-finals of the Whitby tournament. Looking ahead to the tournament at Whitby, Beardsley addedd: “For us, it is the perfect chance to give our boys the experience of playing against a top professional side in Celtic - and potentially a nonleague side in Whitby Town. “To be fair, it is something we try and open up to the lads. “We do play, with all due respect, non-league teams as we like them to get to grips with the physical aspect of the game.
“Hopefully we will get past Celtic and meet Whitby in the final.
“It would be great for Whitby, with all due respect, and it would be good experience for us.
“In terms of the distance between Whitby and Newcastle, and the locality of the sides it would make the perfect final.”
Beardsley could lose a clutch of players to the first team squad in pre-season with Tom Heardman, Adam Armstrong and Freddie Woodman all pushing hard for places in the senior set-up.
Beardsley said: “Without being clever about it, it is our job to produce players for the first-team and if Rafa (Benitez) wants them with him they will go.
“We like to win games with our strongest team and they have to learn to do that - but it is not the be all and end all.
“A player of ours in the first-team is a feather in our cap.
“There are one or two looking towards the first team.
“Whether they are ready or not though it is not for us to decide.
“I might think they are great but I may have a different opinion to Rafa.”