Sterry Hoping To Shine In Pre-Season

By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor

Jamie Sterry is hoping for an opportunity to impress in pre-season after signing his first professional contract last week.

And the 19-year-old right-back is looking to follow the example set by Rolando Aarons last summer and use United's friendly fixtures as a platform into the first team.

Sterry was on the bench twice in the Barclays Premier League towards the end of last term but has yet to make his senior debut for the Magpies - just as Aarons awaited his top flight bow 12 months ago.

But the jet-heeled winger was given his chance last pre-season and responded with a goal against Schalke 04 before making his mark in the top flight until injury curtailed his campaign.

Sterry - who, like Aarons, was part of the side which reached the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup in 2013/14 - hopes that he can follow in the footsteps of his former Academy team-mate.

"I'll probably not score any flukey goals like him, but I'm looking forward to it," Sterry told nufc.co.uk.

"I've kept fit over the off-season so I'm ready to push on and hopefully play when I get the chance.

"Often, that's in pre-season. We've got the game against Gateshead on Friday and then there's plenty more, so we'll see what happens."

Last summer, Sterry was recovering from an operation following an ankle ligament injury, while he was also sidelined for several months with a back problem three years ago, which makes his progress in recent months all the more remarkable.

"It's just hard work and dedication," he said. "There's been a lot of help from the physios as well; I worked a full season, basically, with Beechy (Sean Beech) and he really helped me, as have a lot of other people.

"My ankle injury was the worst - staying in bed for four or five weeks was horrible - but I got back fit and had probably the best end to a season that I've had."