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Pards Excited By Roberts' Potential
Written by Newcastle Utd
Teenage winger Callum Roberts is "knocking on the door" of Alan Pardew's first-team squad, the Magpies manager has admitted
By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor
Teenager Callum Roberts is "knocking on the door" of Alan Pardew's first-team squad, the Magpies manager has revealed.
North Shields-born winger Roberts, who at the age of 17 is in the second year of a two-year scholarship at Newcastle's Little Benton Academy, has been in superb form for United's table-topping under-21 side this term.
And, with several injuries to key players ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League game against Queens Park Rangers, the former Churchill Community College pupil came into Pardew's thinking for a place on the bench.
In the end, he just missed out but Pardew told nufcTV: "I do like him. He has tremendous technique and ability.
"He's a player that wouldn't be included normally because he's in the preparation phase - he's still got another year (at the Academy) - and he's behind Arma (Adam Armstrong) and behind (Rolando) Aarons.
"But he's knocking on the door."
Roberts is expected to play in Monday night's Under-21 Premier League Cup tie at Whitley Park against Crewe Alexandra (kick-off 7pm).
Newcastle ended the win over QPR with four Academy products on the pitch in Armstrong, Sammy Ameobi, Paul Dummett and Tim Krul.
And defender Remie Streete was an unused substitute having been recalled from a short but successful loan spell with Port Vale.
Pardew added: "Streete has done terrific on loan. All these local boys are brilliant; we're in a great position with the local players."
Click here to watch the full nufcTV interview with Alan Pardew