Newcastle United have gone all out in their efforts to be recognised as one of the best academies in the country this season.
There has been a lot of change away from the first-team in the last year. The under-18s and under-21s have through a change of management which saw long-term coaches move to different clubs.
Sporting director Paul Mitchell has spent much of his first year at Newcastle United improving the academy, bringing in new coaches and signing players from rival youth setups to continue their development on Tyneside.
Fans have seen what Newcastle’s academy can produce first hand. Lewis Miley has been sensational whenever he has played for the Magpies this season, and many believe he can go far.
The feeling from the staff is that Newcastle unearthed a special talent with Miley and they are keen to keep him at the club for many years to come.
With Miley setting the example for what Eddie Howe is expecting, here are five academy stars who have impressed in the Magpies’ youth setup this season.
Photo by Harriet Massey/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Photo by Harriet Massey/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Alfie Harrison
Joining from Manchester City for a fee of £3.5m, Alfie Harrison joined Newcastle with a lot to prove. He struggled in his first few months at the club but still earned the chance to train with the first team before the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
Now settled into life on Tyneside, Harrison has found his form for Newcastle’s under-21s and has given Howe a lot to think about over his options next season.
MORE NEWCASTLE STORIES
This season, Harrison scored three goals and bagged seven assists in 20 games in Premier League 2, more assists than any of his teammates and the second most in the competition.
Reports suggest that Harrison could be loaned out next season due to being a natural No. 10, but he should be given an opportunity to impress during pre-season.
Photo by Harriet Massey/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Photo by Harriet Massey/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Garang Kuol
At one point, it looked like Garang Kuol was going to be loaned out for a third straight season, but injury kept him at the club for the 2024/25 season.
It looks to have been a blessing in disguise for Kuol, who has gone on to be one of the under-21s’ most important players in the second half of the season.
After disastrous loans at Hearts and Volendam, Kuol has finally earned a place in the young Magpies’ starting XI and made the most of it, registering nine goal contributions in 10 games. Brilliant form in April earned Kuol a Premier League 2 Player of the Month nomination and proved that Howe has another option in attack should anyone be unavailable.
However, Kuol has suggested he could leave Newcastle this summer to play more consistent first-team football. His feelings are also echoed by the manager of the Australian national team, who believes Kuol has to go if he wants a chance of playing for his country again.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Sean Neave
It has been a season to remember for 17-year-old Sean Neave. After impressing with Newcastle’s under-18s, Neave was named on the bench for the Magpies’ FA Cup fourth-round clash against Birmingham City.
However, the very best was yet to come for Neave, as he was named in the squad for the Carabao Cup final and even picked up a winners’ medal despite failing to play a single minute in the competition.
Neave has been a first-team regular for the past three months and is eagerly awaiting his opportunity to make his professional debut.
Howe believes Neave is a ‘natural’ goalscorer, but he has not had the chance to prove it in the first team yet. The feeling is that Howe will give Neave a chance in Newcastle’s pre-season games in July before deciding what to do with him next season.
Photo By Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images
Photo By Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images
Kyle Fitzgerald
A youngster who only signed for the young Magpies in January, Kyle Fitzgerald has made a name for himself in just a few appearances in Newcastle’s under-18s.
Fitzgerald joined Newcastle from Galway United, the same club as promising defender Alex Murphy did in 2022. After looking sharp in his first couple of games off the bench, Fitzgerald made a big impact in his first start for the under-18s, scoring once and bagging an assist.
Fitzgerald ended the season with five goals and two assists in his first 10 games for the club, and was even named on the bench for the under-21s for one of their Northumberland Senior Cup games.
Despite playing as a striker for the majority of his youth career, Fitzgerald has predominantly played as a right-sided attacker at Newcastle, showing Howe he has great versatility.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Sam Alabi
At just 15 years old, midfielder Sam Alabi has made a big impact on Tyneside after joining from Oldham’s academy last summer.
The youngster has already made his debut for the under-18s and kept his place in the squad for a good part of the season. He has been so impressive that Howe has even recognised him.
In February, Alabi trained with the first team and is sure to have benefited training alongside the likes of Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes.
Additionally, Newcastle fans have likened Alabi to Paul Pogba for his technical ability and confidence in finding a pass.
The future is certainly bright for Newcastle, and the youth staff appear to be doing a sensational job after losing the likes of Graeme Carrick and Ben Dawson.