Rafa: Improving squad is a must
YOUNGSTERS GIVEN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPRESS THE BOSS
NEWCASTLE United’s pre-season campaign began with a 2-0 victory over St Patrick’s Athletic in the humble surroundings of Richmond Park on the outskirts of Dublin.
Midfielder Sean Longstaff capped off an excellent debut with a welltaken strike from the edge of the area, before Christian Atsu added a second late on from the penalty spot after Dwight Gayle was felled in the box.
Rafa Benitez mixed youth with experience, rewarding three Under23 players with their debuts, while giving Adam Armstrong an opportunity to impress, and also giving Kenedy his first appearance since re-joining the Magpies on loan from Chelsea.
Here, NUFC Writer Chris Waugh runs you through how the youngsters and debutants performed against St Patrick’s...
JOSEF YARNEY
The 20-year-old is far from a household name at Newcastle, but there was some excitement when the versatile defender joined from Everton 12 months ago.
Having been given an opportunity to train with the United firstteam squad during the final couple of weeks of last term, Yarney has started this pre-season shadowing captain Jamaal Lascelles once again.
With the Magpies skipper rested - he suffered “tightness” in a muscle and so he was left out as a precaution - Yarney was handed his first start at centre-back alongside Florian Lejeune.
Yarney is very much a ball-playing centre-back and he was keen to ask for possession at every opportunity against St Patrick’s.
The defender probably saw more of the ball than any other United player during the first half, repeatedly starting attacks from centreback, and linking up well with both Matt Ritchie and Longstaff.
A decent performance from Yarney, however, and Benitez will have been pleased by what he saw from the youngster.
SEAN LONGSTAFF
After eight goals during a successful loan spell at League One Blackpool last season, Longstaff returned to Tyneside this summer as one of the few Under-23 players the United coaching staff felt could push towards a first-team place.
A midfielder who has a rangy frame, the 20-year-old attacking-midfielder bulked up during his stint on the west coast and he has been soaking up the advice from Benitez on the training pitch in Ireland.
Starting in midfield alongside Mo Diame, with Jonjo Shelvey given a place on the bench to begin with, Longstaff saw plenty of the ball early on and, within five minutes, he had fired an effort just wide from the edge of the box after one of his trademark late runs forward.
Arguably Newcastle’s best player, the youngster dominated for large spells in the middle - one missed tackle aside - and was a bundle of energy throughout his 90-minute display. Just before half time he was rewarded for his endeavour as he netted his first goal for the club.
VICTOR FERNANDEZ
With Ritchie starting on the right-wing, despite speculation over the Scotland inter nation al’ s United future, Fernandez began the game in an unfamiliar right-back position. Despite normally operating as a winger, Fernandez looked comfortable at rightback - and always showed for possession whenever he could.
CAL ROBERTS
The 21-year-old winger signed a new contract this summer with Newcastle still hopeful the South Shields-born youngster can make it with the Magpies.
He came on to make his first-team debut as a substitute at the interval against St Patrick’s Athletic - and, like Fernandez, in an unfamiliar position as a full-back.
Given Benitez’s lack of options on the defensive flanks, he utilised two wingers from the Under-23 squad in such a position, and Roberts coped pretty well with the unfamiliar leftback role. Defensively he was exposed a couple of times, but he also made some important tackles.
KENEDY
Introduced as a halftime substitute, 22-year-old Kenedy appeared rusty, and he struggled to get into the game early on.
Kenedy kept trying to make things happen whenever he received possession, but his touch was not quite up to speed - until, with 10 minutes to go, he showed exactly why Benitez was so keen to bring him back to Tyneside.
Cutting inside from the right-wing, Kenedy looked up 25 yards out and then took aim with his left foot. He unleashed a right-footed missile which swerved and dipped, before rattling the top of the crossbar - and he also forced a late save from the goalkeeper too.
ADAM ARMSTRONG
The Geordie striker has been on the fringes of the Newcastle first team for a good few years now and, after lifting the Toulon Tournament with England Under-21s during the summer, Armstrong has found himself as thirdchoice striker at the moment. And Ireland marked a big opportunity for Armstrong to try and force his way into Benitez’s plans. The 21-year-old started the game on the bench but came on at the interval - and was deployed as a No 10, behind Dwight Gayle. Armstrong buzzed around and made a nuisance of himself, getting into promising attacking positions and repeatedly making runs down the channels. Another loan move is likely for Armstrong but, until another striker arrives, he may yet get an opportunity.