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Pardew Praises Young Talents
Written by Newcastle Utd
Alan Pardew believes the current crop of youngsters are the best he has had at his disposal on Tyneside
By Tom Easterby
With four Academy graduates starting for Newcastle United in their 2-0 Capital One Cup win over Manchester City in midweek, manager Alan Pardew has revealed the current crop of youngsters in his first team are the best he has had at his disposal during his Tyneside tenure.
Adam Armstrong, Paul Dummett, Sammy Ameobi and Rolando Aarons all lined up against the champions, with Jamaican-born winger Aarons grabbing the opener at the Etihad Stadium, a matter of days after Ameobi had stepped off the bench to net at Spurs last weekend.
All four players came through the Magpies' youth system and Pardew was quick to laud the progress of his next generation.
"I think there's one fundamental difference between some of the performances that we've had when we've introduced younger players in the past and these ones," explained United's boss, ahead of Saturday's clash with Liverpool.
"It is that these younger players are better. It's simple.
"They're a better group. They're stronger. They have more potential. Armstrong, Aarons, Dummett, Sammy Ameobi - they've all come through our Academy, and they're all looking very, very strong to be Newcastle players.
"Out of that group only Sammy has disappointed in the past, but I think this year he's certainly found a new-found belief in himself. But that group is stronger than I've had in all my time here."
Deployed as a lone forward against City in midweek, 17-year-old Armstrong grafted throughout against an experienced opposition defensive duo of Eliaquim Mangala and Martin Demichelis, and went close to doubling his side's lead late in the first half.
And despite replacing Armstrong with Emmanuel Riviere after the break, his manager believes that the city-born prospect still has a lot to offer in the black and white striped shirt.
"The other three have made their progress very rapidly and that four all have great talent and deserve to be in and around our team," said Pardew.
"We still haven't seen the best of Armstrong, and he could be the pick of the bunch."