A number of Newcastle United youngsters are preparing for the new season knowing they have reached key points in their development.
There can be no doubt the Magpies academy setup has shown genuine signs of progression and improvement over the last six months with tournament wins, players making significant steps through the ages groups and regular international call-ups. Several players have featured under Eddie Howe and new Magpies head coach Matthias Jaissle throughout pre-season and will hope to have laid the foundations for a season that already feels integral in their development.
We identify seven players that are providing Newcastle with some major questions to answer during the new campaign.
Sean Neave in action for Newcastle United at Gateshead (photo Tyler Lopes)placeholder image
Sean Neave in action for Newcastle United at Gateshead (photo Tyler Lopes) | Tyler Lopes
Sean Neave
We may as well start with the obvious. Neave has looked lively in pre-season and appears to be in that awkward zone where he is too good for Under-21s football and needs regular first-team football. As it stands, he is unlikely to get the latter at St James Park - and that means a suitable EFL loan should be high on the agenda for the Geordie striker.
Leo Shahar
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The highly-rated full-back is now at a key stage in his development. Despite the departures of Kieran Trippier and Emil Krafth, Shahar is unlikely to get regular senior action with Newcastle and needs to be tested at first-team level. There was loan interest in the former Wolves full-back throughout last season but United felt his development would be boosted by remaining in their Under-21s.
Mason Miley
Mason Miley of Newcastle United gestures during the pre-season friendly match between Newcastle United and Everton at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on August 12, 2026 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)placeholder image
Mason Miley of Newcastle United gestures during the pre-season friendly match between Newcastle United and Everton at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on August 12, 2026 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Possibly the high point of United’s pre-season campaign, Miley has not looked out of place alongside older brother Lewis in the first-team setup. Although he has impressed Matthias Jaissle during the early weeks of his reign, Miley is still a relative novice at Under-21s level and that could be where he is handed a more prominent role during the season - but watching his progress could be one of the most intriguing aspects of the new season.
Henry Johnson
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The Sunderland-born centre-back has quietly gone about his business after being named in the first-team squad throughout pre-season and has produced some solid performances against strong opposition. However, much likely Miley, Johnson is something of a newcomer at Under-21s level and made just five Premier League 2 appearances last season. Although he has done well with United’s senior stars, becoming a regular within the Under-21s side will be his main aim for the new season.
Rory Finneran
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The former Blackburn Rovers prospect impressed throughout last season working under Robbie Stockdale and he made a surprise international debut for the Republic of Ireland earlier this summer. Calm on the ball, hardworking out of possession, it would not be a shock to see Finneran in a first-team squad at some point this season.
George Mair and Roman Dowell
Newcastle possess two promising goalkeepers that are rated highly with the United academy and the England youth setup. What lies ahead for both Mair and Dowell remains to be seen after the penned their first professional contracts earlier this summer - and a lot may depend on whether Aidan Harris makes a permanent move into the senior setup at St James Park or earns another loan move.
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