**When Newcastle United signed right-back Harrison Ashby from West Ham in January 2023 it felt as though we’d signed Kieran Trippier’s successor.**
The West Ham fans were singing Ashby’s praises and seemed genuinely gutted that the young full-back had been sold. Meanwhile, comparisons to Kieran Trippier had Newcastle fans excited. It looked as though [Ashby would come in, learn from Trippier](https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2023/01/31/ashby-signs-announcement-video-full-details-first-words-as-newcastle-seal-deadline-day-deal/) and take over from the England international.
Things never actually worked out like that, though, and instead, Ashby has had a series of loan moves that haven’t exactly done a great deal to suggest he’s ready for Eddie Howe’s first team.
He has put in a couple of good shifts in pre-season, which have likely been what’s kept him at the club, but his latest loan move to League One Bradford City hasn’t exactly gone according to plan either. Until yesterday…
Ashby made only his second start for the Bantams on Easter Monday since his January switch, but he played a pass worthy of the Premier League stage to set up an equaliser for Bradford against Wycombe Wanderers on their way to a huge win that took them to third in the table.
Picking up the ball on the halfway line, Ashby threaded a perfectly weighted ball through the Wycombe defence for Stephen Humphrys to run on to.
Humphry’s efforts were thwarted by the Wycombe keeper, but Bobby Pointon was on hand to lash home the loose ball. It wasn’t technically an assist for Ashby, but he certainly deserves the credit.
Newcastle will probably look to move Ashby on in the summer, as the 24-year-old hasn’t progressed as expected. His League One adventure was meant to put him in the shop window, though, and given his lack of gametime, that obviously hasn’t happened.
We had high hopes for Ashby when he arrived, and part of us wonders if he’s been given a fair crack at Newcastle, but there are plenty at the club who get to see up close how he is in and around the club and where his abilities lie.
It could be time to admit defeat on this project and let him go. If he can’t get into the first XI at a League One side, he’s hardly going to bother the Newcastle squad. Although with Trippier leaving at the end of the season and Tino Livramento’s future uncertain, there’s never been a better time for him to knock on Eddie Howe’s door and demand a shot.