Magpies U21 boss Robbie Stockdale has been delighted with Sean Neave's reaction
Newcastle United's Sean Neave
Newcastle United's young striker Sean Neave(Image: PA)
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Newcastle United striker Sean Neave was praised for his professional attitude as he moved on from the disappointment of missing out on a competitive home debut by scoring twice for the Magpies Under-21s in their 2-2 draw with Brighton.
The United academy product produced a notable landmark earlier this month when he made his competitive senior bow with a late substitute appearance in the Champions League play-off first leg meeting with Qarabag.
Many had expected Neave to be handed further game-time in Wednesday night’s second leg after Eddie Howe’s side racked up a 6-1 lead in Baku. However, the 18-year-old remained on the bench as Newcastle claimed a 3-2 win at St James' Park to set up a last-16 clash with La Liga giants Barcelona.
Neave was back in action on Friday night as he struck a brace for Robbie Stockdale’s Under-21s side as they wasted a two-goal lead in a draw with Premier League 2 rivals Brighton.
Speaking after watching Neave take his goalscoring tally to 12 for the season, Stockdale stressed he expected Neave to show a professional attitude upon his return to the Under-21s and believes his senior debut has left the striker ‘hungry for more’.
He told Chronicle Live: “That’s being a professional, I wouldn’t expect anything less and I wouldn’t accept anything else. Sean knows that and buys into it completely. I think if you’d asked Sean at the start of the season his experiences up to now, would he have took that, I think he definitely would have. That’s really good, it’s good that he’s hungry for more and playing like he did tonight can only do him good.
“He’s full of confidence and you can see the experience he’s had with the senior team. He’s always a pleasure when he comes down. We don’t really see him training-wise so he comes down and plays the games and he slots straight in.
“He’s the first to lead the press, he scores his goals, he’s got great quality with the ball and he’s in a great place at the minute. Hopefully we can carry on promoting that when he plays for us but hopefully he gets on the pitch for the first team as well.”
Fellow first-team hopeful Leo Shahar was absent from the Under-21s squad on Friday night after making his senior debut as a late substitute in the midweek win against Qarabag, and was named on the bench for the 3-2 defeat to Everton.
Stockdale is sure his brief appearance against the Azerbaijani side will make a notable impact on players across United’s academy setup.
“It’s great, it gives everyone a boost in the academy,” explained the former Middesbrough defender. “I told you when Sean made his debut, I get the last little bit and it’s credit to all of the coaches that have worked with him before.
"It’s another really pleasing moment for the academy. I don’t know what his involvement will look like tomorrow (against Everton), you’re right, he might be in the squad but we will see.
"It’s a feather in the cap for the academy, it’s brilliant we have that pathway for young players and it gives hope to the boys in our changing room and further down the academy as well.”
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