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An Assessment of NUFC Players out on Loan

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The loan system in football is vital for player development on any scale, whether it’s a young player needing game time to further progress or a player who has fell out of favour at their club and wants to prove themselves, a loan away is never a bad idea.

Newcastle United have a pool of players out on loan currently and we think its interesting to assess how they have been whilst away on loan to different leagues and clubs.

So here is our full assessment of NUFC players currently out on loan.

 

  1. Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest)

Big Chris Wood joined Nottingham Forest on loan in January after failing to make a big impact on Eddie Howe’s side this season. After returning only 2 goals in 18 for Newcastle this season, it was the right decision to send him out on loan to Premier League Nottingham Forest to allow him to get a fresh start and show Eddie Howe what he could do, unfortunately that hasn’t worked out for him. 1 goal in 7 appearances for Steve Cooper at Forest was not the impact he was hoping for and to top it off, he got injured whilst away on international duty with New Zealand and will miss the rest of the season. Where that leaves him for next season is still up in the air, but for now, this is a loan move that has failed to work out.

 

  1. Isaac Hayden (Norwich City)

28-year-old Isaac Hayden signed for Norwich City on loan last summer with the hope of him being able to add quality to their squad in order for them to bounce back to the Premier League from the Championship. This however hasn’t been the case, managing just 12 games in total this season, missing the first 2 months of the season through a knee injury. Returning during October, Norwich were confident they were going to get the player they were promised in the summer, however 12 games later, he was back on the side-lines with the same knee injury. With no return date for him as of yet and the season coming to an end, this can only be described as a disaster of a loan spell for Hayden.

 

  1. Jeff Hendrick (Reading FC)

The 31-year-old Irishman joined Reading last summer as an experienced Championship midfielder to help push Reading further this season, although that part hasn’t quite come to fruition with them currently being sat in 20th. 38 games for the royals this season contributing 4 goals and 1 assist from the centre of midfield is an impressive return for the Dublin native. Playing almost every minute for Reading this season, being named in the starting 11 every game bar one, perhaps Jeff Hendrick has found his level as he is clearly very capable of doing a good job in midfield in the Championship. Where this leaves him in terms of Eddie Howe’s plans is uncertain but a move back to the Championship wouldn’t be unbelievable for Hendrick.

 

  1. Karl Darlow (Hull City)

6”2 keeper Karl Darlow joined the Tigers in January of this season on loan to help them with their Championship campaign and bring some much needed quality to the team. After finding himself playing second fiddle in the first 4 matches of his loan spell on the bench, Darlow took his opportunity when it was handed to him and has since kept 2 clean sheets in 6 appearances. A fine keeper who fell out of favour at Newcastle, this loan move has shown what he can offer and although his time at St. James’ might be up, there will definitely be interest in him from both Championship and Premier League clubs and if Newcastle can make money from him, then this loan move has been a success for all parties.

 

  1. Ciaran Clark (Sheffield United)

33-year-old Ciaran Clark signed for the Blades in the summer with the hope of being an experienced centre back that can help the club get back to the Premier League. After starting in the first two games of the season for Sheff United against Watford and Millwall, he picked up a hamstring injury that has been reoccurring throughout the season. This has resulted in the former Ireland international only making 9 appearances this season and watching the season unfold from the side lines. With his contract due to expire in the summer at St James, a hamstring injury at 33 years old could spell the end for Clark. Having been named on the bench in recent weeks, we hope that he can make an impact in the remaining games the Blades have and earns himself a contract somewhere.

 

  1. Matty Longstaff (Colchester United)

23-year-old Matty Longstaff joined Colchester last summer with the hope of regular football in League 2 to get him a lot of minutes and the chance to really shine in that league. Struggling at the bottom of the table when he joined at the end of the window, 7 games was all he had and in that time, although he played the minutes for them, he failed to make the impact that was expected of him. A hamstring injury saw him miss 8 games throughout October and most of November, a brief appearance against Doncaster before picking up a knock. With a comeback against Gillingham on Boxing Day, 8 minutes was all it took before a serious injury to his knee saw him stretchered off the pitch and that was the loan spell done. Since then he has undergone surgery and is still currently in rehabilitation with Newcastle whilst they look after him. With his contract due to expire in the summer, it is still unclear where he will be next season but we expect him to get offered a new one.

 

  1. Garang Kuol (Heart of Midlothian FC)

Young Australian winger Garang Kuol signed for the club in January of this year as a developmental player, joining Hearts in Scotland just 11 days after signing for Newcastle. 7 appearances with only 1 being from the starting 11, it is unclear as to what type of player Kuol is going to be for Newcastle. But for now, a loan move to Scotland to get some much needed game time and minutes is certainly a good thing and Eddie Howe can get a real look at him in the summer.

 

What do you make of the performances from the lads out on loan this season – let us know on our social media and follow us for latest North East Updates – https://linktr.ee/northeastupdates

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The fantastic ‘pad’ for seriously ill children and their families, opening in memory of Bradley Lowery

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This is the incredible ‘pad’ where sick children can go for a well-deserved break with their families – and it is all in the name of Bradley Lowery.

‘Super Brad’s Pad’ is taking shape and could soon become a haven for people to ‘make memories’.

It will have five bedrooms, play rooms, a hot tub, enclosed garden and lots of other top-notch facilities.

It is all being made possible by the Bradley Lowery Foundation and the fantastic members of the public who are supporting it with donations.
But more help is needed to make sure fundraising targets are hit and here’s your chance to give support.
Bradley’s mum Gemma Lowery, who started the Foundation, said: “Families can spend days, weeks, months in hospital with a seriously ill child and being able to have a short getaway makes the world of difference to all of the families. 

“We want children to have the opportunities Bradley had when he wasn’t in hospital, we want parents to relax and enjoy each others company, away from the day to day life of being in hospital.”

Super Brad’s Pad will cater for up to 10 people per visit, so that ‘grandparents, aunties, uncles and cousins can also enjoy being a part of the experience’ said the Foundation.

The aim is for the home to host around 100 families per year.

Fundraising was paused, and the holiday build was put on hold, during the pandemic.

But it is back in full swing and Gemma said the build was ‘coming along nicely’.

She added: “Every donation no matter how big or small means everything to us.”

Bradley touched the hearts of people all over the world. In 2017, he won a Child of Courage trophy at the Best of Wearside Awards.

Bradley lost his fight to neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer, in July of 2017.

Gemma founded the Bradley Lowery Foundation and started the charity which became a beacon of hope.

Since it was founded, it has raised more than £3million for dozens of poorly children.

It has also established a dedicated support line for the families of children with cancer, donated huge sums of money to researching childhood cancers and campaigned for new drugs to be introduced in the UK.

Gemma said: “Fundraising is hard for all charities at the moment. We appreciate every penny that is donated, especially because we still have £200,000 to finish the holiday home we are building in Scarborough.”

To found out more about the Foundation, visit https://bradleyloweryfoundation.com

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Karl Darlow set for permanent move away from Newcastle United

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After a successful loan spell to Hull City, Karl Darlow is poised for a permanent move away from St. James’.

Hull City manager Liam Rosenior has made it clear he wants to keep a hold of Newcastle United goalkeeper Karl Darlow.

Signing for the club in 2014 from Nottingham Forest, he went onto make 100 appearances for the magpies with his debut coming in 2015 under Steve McLaren. His best stint for the club was during the 2020/21 season making 25 appearances. He then saw himself fall out of favour when Martin Dubravka signed for the club and now with Nick Pope cementing the position as his own, Darlow saw himself drop down the pecking order.

Signing for Hull City on loan in January, he has since made 11 appearances keeping 5 clean sheets in the process, with three coming in the last four matches against good opposition in Millwall, Blackburn, and Watford.

“He’s been magnificent since he’s come in,” Rosenior said after Darlow’s clean sheet against Watford on Saturday. “I think he’s massively enjoying working here, I think he’s enjoying the club, he’s settled in with the players really really well.

“What I really like about Karl was as soon as he signed he had his young family come and join him and settle down in the area, and I think that’s helped him. Hopefully we’ll have discussions in the summer about his long-term future.”

Rosenior revealed earlier in the week his intention to keep Darlow at the club, and Hull are believed to be in discussions with Newcastle over making the goalkeeper’s stay at the MKM Stadium permanent – as his loan agreement is believed to have as an option.

Contracted at St. James’ until 2025, it seems as though a permanent move to Hull City would be the best thing for Darlow with his position at Newcastle United seemingly gone.

 

Where do you think Karl Darlow will be next season – let us know on our social media and follow us for latest North East Updates – https://linktr.ee/northeastupdates

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Our Premier League Team of the Season 2022/2023

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With the season drawing to a close, we have put together our Premier League Team of the Season.

In what has been a season that is set to go right down to the very end, it has been yet another spectacular campaign of football with players breaking out on to the scene and some very memorable moments.

Lets have a look at who we have decided is in the starting 11 for the Team of the Season.

The starting 11 was chosen in terms of not only who we think has been the best in those positions, but also who has either exceeded expectations but also who has done exactly what was expected of them in their position.

Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier and Sven Botman mean Newcastle United make up 60% of the defence in this team, but for good reason. This season, the magpies are currently bosting the best defence in the league conceding the least amount of goals, 24 to be precise.

William Saliba and Oleksandr Zinchenko make up the remaining two spots in the defence, the Arsenal duo have had a great campaign with the gunners still sat top of the league and looking to get their first league title in nearly 20 years.

A midfield three of Casemiro, Keving De Bruyne, and Martin Odegaard, three players so vital to their clubs and all having a wonderful season, it’s hard to put anyone else in there over them.

Up top, we have a front three of Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, and Erling Haaland as all three players have had goals, influence, and star power in their clubs to push them to the very top this season.

The substitutes include top of the league goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, which seems harsh to leave him out of the starting squad but up against Nick Pope, either could go in and it would be a good decision, but Ramsdale just makes it onto our bench.

Ben Mee has had a cracking season with Brentford seeing them looking set to enjoy a top half finish with him at the heart of defence. Luke Shaw gets on the bench after a solid season under Ten Hag at United.

Bruno Guimaraes, Gabriel Martinelli, and Harry Kane are the remaining players on the bench, all have had a fantastic season but unfortunately only make the bench for this squad.

Roberto De Zerbi is the manager of the season for us, having joined Brighton in September following Graham Potter’s departure, many thought this spelt the end of Brighton’s good fortunes in the Premier League, but not only did De Zerbi do better than expected of him, he has taken a very good Brighton and Hove Albion team and improved them navigating them to a top half finish.

Manchester City only see two players in this team, although they have had a great season, the rotation of the team sees a great team instead of individual players, which is a testament to how Pep Guardiola wants his teams to be.

 

Premier League 22/23 Team of the Season:

Nick Pope (GK), Kieran Trippier, William Saliba, Sven Botman, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Casemiro, Kevin De Bruyne, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Erling Haaland.

Subs:

Aaron Ramsdale (GK), Ben Mee, Luke Shaw, Bruno Guimaraes, Alexis Mac Allister, Gabriel Martinelli, Harry Kane

Manager: Roberto De Zerbi (Brighton)

 

Who would you put in your Premier League Team of the Season – Let us know on our social media and follow us for latest North East Updates – https://linktr.ee/northeastupdates

 

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