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England under-18 international goalkeeper Max Thompson signs first professional contract with Magpies
Written by Dan King
Highly-rated teenage goalkeeper Max Thompson has signed his first professional contract with Newcastle United.
The England under-18 international - who had previously been on schoolboy forms with his boyhood club - was named on the bench for pre-season friendlies against York City and Doncaster Rovers last summer and has regularly trained with the Magpies' senior squad this term.
"I'm buzzing," said the former Ponteland High School pupil, 17. "It's my dream to play for the club and this is a step closer to it, being able to sign that contract and knowing that you're at that next level to try and push on.
"It's been a good 16 months or so, since I came in as a first-year scholar. We had a good run in the FA Youth Cup, we've progressed to the next round this season as well, I've made my debut for England, then it's been topped off with this contract.
"I hope in the future I can progress with Newcastle - that's the main goal - and try to push towards that first team and eventually make my debut for Newcastle and play in the Premier League.
"Anything else that happens after that is a bonus."