The teenager is desperate to finish the season by making his Premier League debut
Sean Neave of Newcastle United warms up
Sean Neave of Newcastle United(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Image)
View 2 Images
Sean Neave has revealed Newcastle United blocked a loan move for his services back in January - but he still has no regrets about plying his trade with the first-team squad.
The 18-year-old has 13 goals to his name this season for the Toon second string and is desperate to make his senior debut in the Premier League. The Geordie striker, who stands at 6ft, is a growing presence in Eddie Howe's first-team squad and hopes to build on his senior bow in the Champions League a couple of months ago.
Since then, Neave has kept his head down and travelled with the squad but has ensured he has stayed in the manager's mind via the currency of reserve team goals and bright training performances.
Neave told Chronicle Live: "There was a thought for me to go on loan in January. But they decided to keep me here and be in and around the team which I was OK with, I was happy.
"Having made my debut this soon. I am happy to stay here rather than go on loan.
"We will see what happens. And next season, look at it again."
*Get Chronicle Premium now for just £1*HERE– exclusive news and features, our NUFC and Academy notebooks, John Gibson's columns plus an ad-lite experience****
Neave is a boyhood Newcastle fan and grew up watching the Magpies suffer some bad times including relegation in 2016. It means some of his early memories include the club's stint in the Championship.
Neave said: "My earliest memory was seeing Andy Carroll and players such as Fabricio Coloccini and Cheick Tiote after that, players like that. I was just a kid.
"Those are the names that pop into my head when I think of my first Newcastle memories, enjoying myself going to games and supporting the club.
"I know we have not had it easy as a club or fanbase, so to be playing Champions League football this season, having watched on as a fan in the Championship, is something incredible.
"Personally, it has been unbelievable to play in the Champions League and make my debut at 18, not something I thought I'd be doing. I never thought the day would come."
Newcastle United's Sean Neave applauds the travelling fans against Qarabag
Newcastle United's Sean Neave applauds the fans against Qarabag(Image: Elmir Karimov/Shutterstock)
View 2 Images
Neave is the latest Academy product to make his name as a first-team debutant at Newcastle and hopes that he can follow in the footsteps of another player he grew up watching from the youth ranks.
Neave said: "When you are down at the Academy, you are looking around at the photos on the wall, the likes of Elliot Anderson, for example, are players that have done it and you can look up to them.
"They are showing lads like me it can be done too. You want to follow in their footsteps and hopefully get a few more opportunities and set myself up and get into the Newcastle team on a regular basis."
The next step for Neave will be first-team minutes, something that may come by the end of the season.
Neave added: "I never thought my Champions League debut would come before my Premier League debut! But that's what happened.
Hopefully, my Premier League debut is around the corner. If I can get a goal or even an assist to go with it, I'd be delighted."
It was in Azerbaijan, during a 6-1 win over Qarabag, that Neave made his competitive debut back in springtime. Looking back he said: "I had no idea when that moment (dream debut) would come. It was just on the spot, 'get ready, you are going on'.
"The gaffer just told me: 'Just run your legs off, run for the team and enjoy it'.
"He also told me: 'You have worked really hard for this and deserve it'. It was an amazing experience."
Content cannot be displayed without consent