Harper will boost plans for United’s youngsters
ACADEMY CHIEF DAWSON BELIEVES FORMER KEEPER’S ROLE WILL BENEFIT TOON
BEN Dawson believes that the re-introduction of Steve Harper at Benton can only benefit Newcastle United and boost the club’s aim to hand more Academy youngsters their chance in the first team. In the last 12 months, Sean and Matty Longstaff have broken into the senior squad while the likes of Lewis Cass, Kell Watts and Elias Sorensen have come close to a place in the senior squad. Harper’s new role will mean that there is a daily dialogue between Dawson and the former goalkeeper with the Easingtonborn coach then feeding information back to Steve Bruce and his backroom team. Bruce wants to know who is close to playing and training with the senior squad in the event of injuries. Dawson, who worked with Harper last season as the Under-23s reached two cup finals, told the Chronicle: “It’s a catch 22 having one site or split sites.
“When we were up at the first team base you always took it for granted that people communicated.
“But communication is a little better now we are out of sight. “When it’s like that you have to (communicate).
“So having that designated person who you can have that conversation with about players.
“You can talk about if anybody is coming down to the Academy or going in the other direction.
“It means the first team squad can focus on the game on a weekend.” Rafa Benitez felt the first team training base was too chaotic when he took over the club in 2016 and since then the Under-23 squad have trained at Little Benton.
It’s something that Bruce has stuck with but he felt the need for more information from the second string was badly needed. Although, there has been some disruption behind the scenes after Neil Redfearn quit his post as Under-23 boss recently leaving Dawson to resume his old position and continue as director of coaching.
When asked how things have been since Redfearn walked away, Dawson said: “The lads have just carried on.
“I don’t think much has changed and that is how it should be.
“We’re trying to put something in place where no matter who is in charge, what we do stays the same.
“You could see that against Benfica, we were organised and compact and got on the front-foot.
“We will always look to press when we can and when we do get the ball we want to try to play.
“Sometimes the opposition don’t let you do what you want to do but we
You can talk about if anybody is coming to the Academy or going in the other direction. It means the first team squad can focus on the game on a weekend
are after the same thing from the Under-23s right down to the Under-9s.
“We are trying to get that structure in place and hopefully it will get more players though that first team door and pathway.”
Dawson, who United appointed caretaker manager in the summer as they searched for a replacement for Benitez, will now help look for a new Under-23 manager to work with.
He said: “At this moment in time we are going to have to look at that because of the number of games coming up.
“Getting another person we think is right for the job might take some time, it might not.
“We’ll just have to wait and see as we go through the process.”
United’s second string had an excellent season last term as they reached both the Premier League play-off final and the Premier
League Cup final. This season they have already been knocked out of the EFL Trophy but remain in the Premier League Cup and the Premier League International Cup.
Dawson hopes his side can emulate last season’s efforts, he said: “Any cup run helps our players in terms of individual development.
“It gives them a great experience.
“You never know what experience you are going to need along the path. “We spoke in our meeting before the game about reaching the semi-finals when we played FC Porto and how such nights are special. “They don’t come along very often so you have to make the most of it.”
Any cup run helps our players in terms of individual development. It gives them a great experience Ben Dawson