Redfearn spots shades of England star in Young
NEWCASTLE United youngster Jack Young put in an outstanding performance under the watchful eye of Steve Bruce this week. The 18-year-old has played just a handful of games for the Magpies but the central midfielder has made a very promising start to the campaign. Having signed a professional contract in July, Young is one of a batch of new faces in Neil Redfearn’s second string. But the teenager kept summer signing Kyle Scott, the USA Under-20 international, out of the starting XI in the 3-2 win over Norwich City on Monday.
Young’s workaholic display against the Canaries proved to be the driving force for Redfearn’s team and also brought out the best in Mo Sangare.
Redfearn told The Chronicle: “Mo Sangare’s athleticism and power is a good foil for the little fella Jack Young.
“He is a clever little player, and a bright footballer.
“I thought the two central midfielders were outstanding, just the energy and aggression really.
“They played off the front foot. They have to bottle it and take it to the next game.”
But it was Young’s battling display that had the diehard fans in attendance at Whitley Park this week.
Redfearn, who had a similar mentor role at Leeds, feels that Young’s attributes remind him of one of his graduates at Elland Road.
Indeed, Redfearn nurtured Lewis Cook through the ranks at Leeds before he won a move to Premier League AFC Bournemouth and then an England cap at senior level.
Redfearn said: “There’s a lot of traits in him, and I have said to him, that remind me of Lewis Cook at Leeds.
“He’s got that athleticism too and over four or five yards he gets things quick on second balls then he uses the ball well.”
Although, Young and Sangare’s performances were just a couple of eye catching displays that will have impressed Bruce.
Rosaire Longelo netted a wonder goal while Luke Charman scored again and Thomas Allan capped a fine display with the winning strike.
Redfearn added: “It was a great show for them in front of the gaffer.
“They have done themselves no harm.
“The good thing was it was a good tempo against a good side.
“Hopefully, it will have put one or two players in his (Steve Bruce) mind which is what we are trying to do.”
Newcastle’s second string have now put together back-to-back wins in Premier League 2 but the result was not nailed-on as Norwich fought back to 2-2 - and United conceded a disappointing goal with the last kick of the first half.
Redfearn said: “For 44 minutes, that was the best I’ve seen them play but for one minute, we switched off.
“Football has this habit of kicking you in the teeth if you’re not careful.
“The good thing was at half-time, I came into the dressing room and it was noisy.
“People were saying stuff like ‘who’s picking him up’ and they were all at it.
“As a coach, that’s what you want to hear.”