What new deal says about Toon’s future

NEWCASTLE United’s reserve team set-up found itself under some intense scrutiny from supporters just a few months ago when Lewis Gibson opted to quit the Magpies and sign for Everton.

The move resulted in Toon fans questioning the club’s youth policy and pondering whether or not there were any decent youngsters coming through the ranks.

But there was cause for celebration this week at the Academy when Dan Barlaser – arguably the club’s brightest young player – decided to sign a new deal and commit his future to the Magpies.

For those who don’t know who the 20-year-old is, he’s a skilful midfielder from Rowlands Gill who has already courted plenty of attention.

Both the English and Turkish FA have fought for his services at international level and big clubs from the country of his father have stood up and taken notice of his progress.

Both Besiktas and Fenerbahçe have monitored his progress and he has also been linked with moves in the Istanbul media.

But after signing a new deal this week, Barlaser told the Chronicle: “There’s no other club I want to be at. I have been at Newcastle United since I was nine and love this club.

“I am a fan of the club and there’s nowhere else I want to be. It was a proud moment for me and my family to sign that contract.”

Barlaser celebrated his contract with a cracking strike against Sparta Prague on Tuesday when he blasting the ball home from 22 yards to win the game.

The midfielder is the type of player that gets fans excited going forward and has a great range of passing.

Rafa Benitez handed him his debut in last season’s FA Cup clash against Birmingham City but those who follow Newcastle closely will have already seen him in and around squads before.

He said: “The first squad I was in I was just 16 when we were away to Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup. I had to get up and sing a song in front of all the lads! We got beat 4-0 that night sadly. I’m 20 now and I still want the same.

“It was a long time ago but I am hungrier than ever. Going to watch the games on a Saturday at St James’ Park with 52,000 people there in the Premier League, I don’t think a footballer can dream much bigger than that.

“I am going to try my hardest to get in the first team and play in the Premier League.”

Scoring goals like the one he grabbed at Whitley Park this week won’t do him any harm and after admitting his tally had room for improvement, Barlaser hopes it’s the start of some fine form to come.

He said: “When I am training I am always popping in a few goals. I was thinking to myself that I needed to start shooting more in games.

“I had that bit of space against Sparta Prague and I thought I’d hit it as hard as I can into the corner and luckily it went in.”

The wonder-strike brought Newcastle Under-23 side’s awful run of seven games without a win to an end – and the display against the Czech side was a vast improvement on last Friday’s defeat to Blackburn Rovers.

That evening Newcastle were outfought by a third flight reserve side.

Barlaser reflected: “Blackburn were a totally different team. Sparta came here to pass the ball around and that’s what they did.

“Their striker Vaclav Drchal was a handful and our forwards pressed as a team. In the first half, I think we battered them, then in the second half we started sloppily and gave away a penalty.

“At 1-1 we made it hard for ourselves but we were patient and we got the goal we deserved and the win we deserved.

“In the games we have played before and lost they have been close. Southampton was obviously embarrassing but we have only lost narrowly after starting games really well.

“We just gave away sloppy goals. It was massive to win against Sparta Prague. Sometimes at Under-23 level it’s not about results but against Sparta it was.

“The performance said it all and that’s why we got a good result.”