Peter Pleased With Loan Lads

By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor

Peter Beardsley believes Newcastle United's loanees will return for pre-season training as better players.

A significant number of young Magpies spent last term away from St. James' Park, playing regular football in a competitive environment to aid their development.

The likes of Adam Armstrong, Alex Gilliead and Macauley Gillesphey caught the eye, with the former netting 20 goals for Coventry and the other two regulars in Carlisle's starting line-up.

Ivan Toney enjoyed a couple of spells at Barnsley, which culminated in two Wembley finals, Haris Vuckic helped Wigan top League One, while there was also a first taste of Football League action for Liam Smith, at Blackpool, and Kyle Cameron and Lubomir Satka, at York.

And Beardsley is looking forward to having them all back in his under-21 group and, potentially, pushing for a place in United's first team squad next season.

"Arma is not that far off the first team in a lot of people's eyes, although that will ultimately be the manager's decision," Newcastle's football development manager told nufc.co.uk.

"But him going on loan, Ivan Toney going on loan, Alex Gilliead and Macaulay Gillesphey have had a brilliant experience at Carlisle, Haris Vuckic has done well at Wigan, getting promoted with them - it's all part of their development as young players.

"It's been brilliant for people like Arma, who scored 20 goals, and Ivan, who has played at Wembley twice this season. That's massive for them.

"Bigi (Gael Bigirimana) will have got his confidence back at Coventry - a club he knows well.

"Alex and Macaulay did brilliantly at Carlisle, even though they fell away at the end, while Haris is going to come back buzzing because he has been part of a title-winning team.

"Kyle did a great job at York. Lubo couldn't get in the team there because physically he isn't ready yet, but he's a lovely footballer and the experience will have done him the world of good. He will come back knowing what he needs to do to improve.

"The lads who have been out on loan will all return as better players for their experience.

"Whether they come back and start next season with us (the under-21s), I don't know, but that would certainly make us stronger."

United's second string finished their 2015/16 campaign in tenth place in division two of the Barclays Under-21 Premier League, with four wins from their 22 fixtures.

And while the results may have frustrated Beardsley, he was happy to have not only seen a number of his group turn out at first team level, but also blood some rookies for the future.

"It was a frustrating one for us but, on the whole, not too disappointing," he continued.

"I say that because we had ten players out on loan this season - and all ten of them would have been playing in this team.

"With the development group, you get what you're given and it is what it is.

"If you're going to have ten kids out on loan then you have to promote other players from the under-18s to take their place.

"You want to win every game, but it's not all about that for us. It's about developing the kids and if you look at the under-21s down, I don't think we're in a bad place at all.

"People have to understand that it's about the bigger picture. It's obviously about winning games at first team level but the under-21s have to develop players.

"Three of our lads were on the bench for the West Brom home game, Jamie Sterry made his debut against Tottenham on the final day, and Ivan Toney, Kevin Mbabu and Rolando Aarons have all played in the Premier League, so there are always positives at this level if you look past the results.

"They have all come through this group, so in my opinion this side of the Club is in good hands."