Eddie Howe will be eager to see which Newcastle United youngster is next to emerge from the academy.
During his time as Newcastle United manager, Eddie Howe has introduced Lewis Miley to senior football. He gave the local lad his big break, with Miley making his senior debut at the age of just 17-years-old.
Howe also oversaw Elliot Anderson’s emergence as a first-team player at St James’ Park before his move to Nottingham Forest, while Irish defender Alex Murphy has also became a full-time member of the Newcastle United first-team squad.
The next cab off the rank remains unclear, but one player who looks destined to enjoy a bright future on Tyneside is Leo Shahar.
Leo Shahar celebrates scoring for Newcastle United against Barcelona in the UEFA Youth League.
Photo by Harriet Massey/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Leo Shahar believes he is improving at Newcastle United
The 18-year-old right-back often trains with the first-team, while he featured on the bench for a Premier League game last season.
Shahar is definitely a Newcastle United academy player who Eddie Howe will have his eye on, and the teenager has made it clear that his game is certainly improving during an interview with the club’s official website.
He spoke about Newcastle’s upcoming UEFA Youth League game against Benfica, having captained the Magpies’ Under-19s side to defeats versus Barcelona and Union Saint-Gilloise.
It is all vital experience for Shahar, who represented the club in the same competition two years ago.
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“It’s a positive to be captain in such a big competition and it feels like I have a big responsibility for the team but I enjoy it,” he said.
“It’s good for me and helps to get others involved in the game. I look forward to it in every game.
“It shows I’ve made progression and, as a whole, my game has got better. Being a younger player back then, you look up to the older ones and, hopefully, the younger ones will now look up to me and I can try to give them information and get good results.
“I feel like I’ve had a very good start to the season. I’ve been away with England Under-19s as well as playing for the under-21s and in the Youth League. It’s a good games programme to be involved in at my age and I feel I’m developing at the highest level I can. I’m happy with that and I want to keep pushing on.”
A place on the bench for Leo Shahar this evening 🙌
It's the first time the 18-year old has been named in a senior matchday squad ⤵️
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) April 2, 2025
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Leo Shahar is not too far away from first-team opportunity
Shahar knows his game is getting better, as he continues his journey towards becoming a senior player at Newcastle United.
An opportunity might not be too far away for the former Wolverhampton Wanderers player, as Newcastle are dealing with a key injury in Shahar’s preferred position of right-back.
Tino Livramento has a knee injury, with the England international ruled out until late November/early December. In his absence, 35-year-old Kieran Trippier is Newcastle’s first choice right-back.
After Tripps, Newcastle have Emil Krafth. The 31-year-old has made just one appearance so far this season, starting the Carabao Cup victory over Bradford City.
In terms of out-and-out right-backs, Shahar is after Trippier and Krafth in the Toon pecking order right now. In that respect, he is not a million miles away from getting the chance to make his Newcastle United debut.