Harrison Ashby's long term future at Newcastle is unclear as he steps up his return from injury
Newcastle United defender Harrison Ashby (L) in action for the under-21s vs Harrogate Town
Newcastle United defender Harrison Ashby (L) in action for the under-21s vs Harrogate Town
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Newcastle United under-21s lead coach Adam Lawrence has revealed right-back Harrison Ashby will remain with the club's second string for the time being.
Ashby, who signed for Newcastle in January 2023 from West Ham United, is yet to make his competitive debut for the first team and hasn't quite made the strides many had expected.
The 23-year-old has spent loan spells with Swansea City and QPR in the Championship in that time and while he is registered in Newcastle's Premier League squad, there was no suggestion he could feature for the first team in the midst of injuries picked up by full-backs Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento in recent weeks.
When that question was put to Eddie Howe by Chronicle Live last month, the United head coach revealed Ashby had been suffering with a thigh injury that had ruled him out of contention.
He has since returned to the pitch with the under-21s, playing 45 minutes in Saturday's 3-2 win over Burnley u21s before lasting 60 minutes in Tuesday night's 3-1 defeat at Harrogate Town in the Vertu Trophy, where he created the young Magpies' goal for Alfie Harrison.
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And when asked whether Ashby would be remaining with the under-21s or returning to the first team, Lawrence revealed the plan, for now, is for him to remain with the under-21 programme.
"At the minute, we are taking it week by week with Harrison," Lawrence told Chronicle Live.
"He had a setback earlier on in the season when he was returning from injury. The key thing for him is we want him to be fit and we want him to be available.
Adam Lawrence the head coach of Newcastle United U21
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"At the moment, in terms of the under-21s and our programme, that is the best place for him to do that.
"Naturally, as he builds up his minutes and number of games the first team staff will see where Harrison is at.
"We are taking it week by week and game by game but I think for him and Parky (Ben Parkinson), the two players who have been out and played 45 minutes at the weekend and 60 minutes tonight, it was positive for them that they got through that."