Newcastle United will look to get a series of players out on loan when the transfer window reopens
Mark Carruthers is a football writer covering North East clubs with a focus on non-league football in the region
Newcastle United’s Alex Murphy
It has been a challenging start to the new season for Newcastle United Under-21s – but their three-week break from league fixtures offers a chance to reflect and take stock for new lead coach Adam Lawrence.
Former Middlesbrough defender Robbie Stockdale oversaw the opening weeks of the season on an interim basis as the Magpies looked to finalise an agreement with Manchester United academy coach Lawrence.
The campaign got underway on a positive note with a thrilling 4-3 win in a National League Cup tie at Gateshead as captain Cathal Heffernan headed a late goal to earn a dramatic victory for his side. However, United’s league campaign has been one of struggle as Sunday’s 4-1 home defeat against Tottenham Hotspur means the Magpies youngsters have claimed just two points from their first six Premier League 2 fixtures.
There is a busy schedule in place between now and the turn of the year as the Magpies Under-21s also enter the Premier League International Cup and face the likes of Real Sociedad, Paris Saint-Germain and Croatia Zagreb before the festive period.
But there will also be a focus on the January transfer window and several Magpies youngsters are believed to be attracting interest from clubs that are keen to take them on loan in the new year. Loan co-ordinator Shola Ameobi will be working with Lawrence new sporting director Ross Wilson, who officially joined the club this weekend.
There are high hopes defender Leo Shahar and striker Sean Neave can build on their impressive progress over the coming months – but their development may well continue to take place on Tyneside before loan exits are considered next summer. As it stands, highly-rated winger Trevan Sanusi and midfielder Travis Hernes are spending time on loan on the continent with Lorient and Groningen respectively, goalkeeper Aidan Harris is in Northern Ireland with Coleraine and fellow academy stopper Tyler Jones is impressing for United’s non-league neighbours Ashington.
There are several other United prospects that appear to be ready to take the next step in their own development with a temporary move away from Newcastle – and some have already had a taste of senior action.
Ben Parkinson
The Durham-born striker does have a senior appearance under his belt after coming on as a substitute for fellow academy graduate Lewis Miley in a 2-0 Premier League defeat at Bournemouth in November 2023. Parkinson’s progress has been hampered by injury and he is currently in the final stages of his recovery from his latest blow.
Chronicle Live understands the striker has previously been close to a move to Blackpool and still has loan interest from several EFL and National League clubs. Should he return to full fitness, a loan move would surely be on the agenda in the new year.
Cathal Heffernan
The former AC Milan defender and current Magpies Under-21s captain also had interest from a number of clubs keen to take him on loan during the summer and has only enhanced his reputation with some solid displays in what has been a difficult season for the United second string.
Heffernan looks to be ready to make his first move into senior football and possesses all of the attributes required to take the next step in his development. Interest in his services remains and it would be no surprise to see the big defender venturing into the EFL come January.
Alex Murphy
Another player with senior experience under his belt after the former Galway United defender appeared in several pre-season friendlies for the Magpies first team. His recent substitute appearances in the Carabao Cup win against Bradford City means the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international has made three senior appearances at St James Park and he has also earned experience away from Tyneside with a loan spell at League One club Bolton Wanderers.
Despite his recent St James Park run-out against the Bantams, there has been little talk of Murphy stepping into the first team squad with Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento currently out of action. The 21-year-old still has two and a half years remaining on his current deal and needs regular first-team football to boost his development. A loan move in January should be on the cards.
Charlie McArthur
There were high hopes for the Scotland youth international when he moved to Tyneside from Kilmarnock just over three years ago and he has worked his way into the United Under-21s side during that time. A first step into senior football came last season when the defender joined Carlisle United on loan during the second half of the season. He returned to Newcastle after making ten appearances for the Cumbrians and was unable to prevent the Brunton Park club slipping into the National League.
McArthur has appeared in four of the last five Premier League 2 fixtures for the Magpies second string and captained them in a 2-2 draw at Birmingham City in a game where the defender also found the net. Despite experiencing a difficult loan spell at Carlisle, another temporary move should be considered in January.
Alfie Harrison
The signing of Harrison from Manchester City was viewed as something of a coup for the Magpies academy and the attacking midfielder has shown flashes of why his arrival was met with such enthusiasm. A return of three goals and seven assists in 20 Premier League 2 games last season offered promise of more to come and the youngster was rewarded with a handful of pre-season friendly appearances alongside Eddie Howe’s senior side.
However, Harrison is approaching a critical point in his development and with the route to a consistent place in United’s first-team squad blocked, it seems he should be under consideration to head out on loan and earn senior experience in the EFL during the second half of the season.
Aidan Harris
The highly-rated goalkeeper was actually part of the Magpies squad that ventured to the San Siro to face AC Milan two years ago as United ended their two-decade absence from the Champions League. Since then, the Washington-born stopper has impressed within the Magpies youth ranks and is currently on loan at Northern Irish club Coleraine as he earns the first senior experience of his career.
The 18-year-old has kept four clean sheets and has conceded seven goals in his first nine appearances of a loan spell that is set to end in the first week of the new year. Should Harris continue to impress, it would be no surprise to see another loan spell in the EFL come to fruition.