Sean Neave has just sent a telling reminder to Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe.
Neave played for the Newcastle United academy against Burnley, which rules him out of Sunday’s Premier League trip to Brentford almost 24 hours later.
Newcastle United are enduring an injury crisis in the striker role and Howe does not have many options behind Nick Woltemade.
As good as the German has been, he has looked fatigued in recent weeks and came off at half-time against West Ham last weekend.
Both Yoane Wissa and William Osula are injured for Newcastle, which theoretically left the door open for Neave.
Still, the 18-year-old appears to have been overlooked for the trip to Brentford for even a place on the bench.
The teenager, however, did just send something of a reminder about his quality.
Sean Neave celebrates after scoring for Newcastle United Under 21s against Nottingham Forest Under-21s.
Photo by Harriet Massey/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Sean Neave scores two goals for Newcastle United U21s
Newcastle United’s academy team beat the Clarets 3-2 on Saturday.
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Neave opened the scoring for Adam Lawrence’s side but the young Magpies threw away their lead after the interval.
Joe Brayson would get Newcastle back onto level terms before Neave bagged his second of the game with a stoppage-time strike to secure all three points.
Eddie Howe should be on alert after Sean Neave’s response
The jury is still out on Neave at Newcastle. When all of Howe’s strikers are fit, it’s difficult to see how he gets anywhere near the first-team at this stage.
However, no one seems to know when Wissa will return just yet. Osula, meanwhile, has been suffering with an ankle injury for what feels like a while now.
It would be foolish to throw Neave right into Premier League action, of course. Still, Lewis Miley shone when he was cast in at the deep end a few seasons ago now.
All Neave can do is score goals at whatever level he’s playing at. On Saturday, he did that.
Howe needs to be on alert. If Wissa and Osula continue to miss games through injury, Neave could be the man to offer Woltemade at least some support.