Watson: "There's A Pathway To The First Team"

By Tom Easterby

After Callum Roberts became the latest Newcastle United youngster to make the first team squad, Dave Watson told nufc.co.uk his young players will be encouraged by the number of Academy products forcing their way into the reckoning this season.

Seventeen-year-old winger Roberts was named in the senior matchday squad for the first time ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash with Queens Park Rangers, although didn't make the substitutes' bench.

And Magpies Under-18 coach Watson, who has seen the likes of Rolando Aarons and Adam Armstrong step up from the Club's Academy since his arrival, says the rewards for young, hardworking and talented players are there for all to see.

"It's absolutely fantastic, it really is," enthused the former England centre-half.

"The manager has been great that way. He's always giving kids a chance if the reports that are coming back are saying they are good enough.

"There is a pathway and the kids know that, and it's a great carrot dangling in front of them.

"With Cal getting the introduction on Saturday, and Rolando and Arma have had a taste of it, it's fantastic for them."

Pardew's senior side are beginning to bear the fruits of the Academy's labours but, as Watson explains, every young player's rate of development is different.

"It works in batches. Some years you'll get three or four come through and some years you'll get none come through - kids kick on at different times," said the ex-Everton captain.

"A lot of work goes on between the age of 16 and 18 and they mature at different times.

"There are some kids who'll come into the first year who you think have got a lot to do and then, within the space of few months, they really take it all on board and kick on.

"They all develop at different times. It's all individual stuff - they're all different."

And with a number of teenage Academy graduates making their presence felt in United's first-team this term, Watson believes the old footballing adage of 'if you're good enough, you're old enough' rings true when it comes to Newcastle's management of their young stars.

"Age doesn't really matter," he said.

"We've got Mackenzie Heaney, a 16-year-old, who is playing with the under-18s. He's good enough, so he's old enough as far as we're concerned and I'm sure the manager will see it that way as well."