Newcastle United have been handed a promising update on an Under-21 talent currently impressing in the Football League.
January saw several of our younger players given the opportunity to impress in the men’s game after a tentative few years for our loan system. Since Elliot Anderson impressed at Bristol Rovers in 2022, multiple disappointing spells from within our setup have hardly generated much excitement about the pathway to the first team.
Charlie McArthur seemed to get off to a good start at Carlisle United but has since fallen out of favour with Mark Hughes’ side who are bottom of League Two – but another defender is impressing in pursuit of Championship promotion.
Bolton boss Steven Schumacher appears to be a big fan of Newcastle United talent Alex Murphy, who continues to impress since securing a January loan move.
The Irishman has started in six of the Wanderers’ last seven as they have climbed into sixth in League One, with competition for a play-off spot tight.
20-year-old Murphy was singled out for praise for his performance in the 2-1 win over Burton on Saturday, where he shone as a left-sided centre-back:
“George (Johnston) was going to play but Alex (Murphy) stepped in and I thought he was brilliant,” said Schumacher. “It was his best game for Bolton, definitely.
“Like I say, he wasn’t going to start for us but when we knew George had picked up the injury he had to step in right at the very end. He had done the match prep but not the 11 v 11 stuff yet in training, but I thought he was great.
“He was brilliant, he slotted into that left-hand side centre-back role, which was perfect for him because he is a bombing, running-forward, full-back really.”
Joe White is enjoying his best season so far at MK Dons. The 22-year-old midfielder has six league goals to his name for the League Two. The Carlisle-born Mag has impressed Eddie Howe in the past and is contracted until 2027, making a first team chance a slim possibility in pre-season in what could be a make or break 2025/26 for his Newcastle career.
It’s been a tricky time in Carlisle for Charlie McArthur. The defender initially joined under the management of former Toon defender Mike Williamson, who was promptly sacked with his side bottom of the EFL system. The 19-year-old hasn’t been included in Mark Hughes last four squads.
Serbian recruit Miodrag Pivas has played just over 200 minutes of football at Willem II all season, watching on from the bench on an almost weekly basis.
Elsewhere, Norwegian midfielder Travis Hernes joined Danish side Aalborg in January, he has featured in all four games since the end of the winter break – three of those being starts.