Newcastle United under-21s boss Ben Dawson has praised Ben Parkinson's start to life with the second string. The teenage forward has made the step up to the second string since the turn of the year, and has scoring twice in four appearances so far.
Parkinson is one of several prospects to be handed more game-time since Dawson's appointment as Elliot Dickman's successor in January. The versatile attacker celebrated his 18th birthday last week, and has been joined in making the up from under-18 level this year by defender Ciaran Thompson.
Parkinson was handed his first start in the derby defeat at Sunderland in January, and then opened his account at under-21 level in the draw with Leeds United. The Magpies forward was then shifted to the right flank but again scored against Stoke City, and Dawson has been encouraged by what he has seen so far.
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The Newcastle U21s boss told ChronicleLive: "I think with the younger lads, it's very much a case of ourselves and the under-18s staff are all in the same office. We're having those daily discussions around who did well today in training, who did well in the games, does anyone need a little taste of it in training for a couple of days?
"Mark Atkinson plays a big part in that as head of player development, just making sure the players get what they need at the right stage. Whether it's a day a week with the under-21s, which is how Ben and Ciaran probably started out.
"They gradually get to the point where we think they can cope with the demands of the programme. Particularly with Ben who has been with us a little longer, he's started to handle the games along with the training. His performances have been a good reflection of that."
