Teen star impresses head coach

EDDIE Howe has admitted that youngster Jay Turner-cooke was ‘close’ to making his debut against Man City after the Newcastle United head coach hailed the 18-year-old as a ‘real talent’.

Although Turner-cooke did not make the match day squad on Sunday, the attacking midfielder did get the chance to experience an away day with the first team for the first time after midfielder pair Jonjo Shelvey (calf) and Joe Willock (knee) were ruled out through injury.

As well as travelling on the team coach and watching his idol, Phil Foden, play in the flesh, Turner-cooke had the opportunity to warm up with England stars Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier as well as the rest of Newcastle’s substitutes before the 5-0 defeat at the Etihad.

One of the messages that has been driven home at the academy is that you never know who might be watching and Turner-cooke and fellow youngster Lucas de Bolle have caught Howe’s eye and trained with the first team.

Howe actually watched the pair play in the Northumberland Senior Cup final at St James’ Park last week when former Sunderland youngster Turnercooke scored a stunning goal in the young Magpies’ 3-2 defeat by Blyth Spartans.

Just a few days later, Turnercooke was on his way to the Etihad with de Bolle and the rest of the first-team squad.

Having hit double figures in his first season with the under-23s, it has certainly been a memorable campaign for the South Shields lad following his move from Sunderland last season.

“His role was to see and experience Manchester City, really, and see an away game experience at probably one of the best teams in the world so it will have done him the world of good just to see it from afar and take it all in,” United head coach Howe told NUFC TV.

“I think he’s a real talent.

“He’s a player with very good technical ability and, with the injuries to Jonjo and Joe Willock, he was close to playing.

“He was close to being involved because those two players have injuries that may well keep them out for the rest of the season. He’s trained very well with us.

“He’s been with us for probably a couple of weeks in terms of training and he’s done well.”