Eddie Howe is keen to improve the links between Newcastle United's Academy and the club's first-team training base. The long-term vision at United is to have all teams of all ages training at the new training centre including the NUFC Women's team but in years gone by there has been a disconnect between both the senior squad and the Under-23s and Under-18s.
Newcastle have historically always been recovering from the days when Kevin Keegan scrapped the reserve team all together and banished the second string to Gateshead's International Stadium.
The support network was poor at that time with then coach Jeff Clarke having to drive the team bus as well as preparing the team, and there was no pathway to the first-team as the Magpies of the mid-90s focused on the senior side. The club have vastly improved their Academy and Little Benton is a major improvement of years gone by.
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Newcastle's Under-23 team did train at the club's first-team base and eat with the senior squad after training. But that was stopped in 2016.
Howe has now invited the Under-23 side to train once a week with the first-team and is keen to improve links between the two centres until the club's training facility has been improved.
Tough day for the Under-18s
The season has been a difficult one for the Academy as they continue to struggle in the Barclays Under-18 League. They were beaten 6-0 at Manchester United last weekend.
However, things got even worse as the club's youth team suffered a 13-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City. In a week in which the Under-23 lost 4-2 to Southampton to miss out on the play-offs, Howe will be eager to have a review of the club's youth system in the summer.
Academy chief Steve Harper watched on from the stands against the Saints and is now over a year into the job. Incoming technical director Dan Ashworth will be keen to see how he can help the situation at Little Benton.
On the ground, in the grassroots area, the big aim is to stop players like Bobby Clark leaving for bigger sides while Middlesbrough and Sunderland are also feeding off the same catchment areas and luring local talent down the A19.
Sean Longstaff seeks assurances at United
The midfielder has been offered a new four-year contract at St James' Park. Longstaff last signed a deal in 2018 and has been on low wages in comparison with his team-mates.
But he has not complained about his situation and waited for an offer in between two owners. Although the midfielder's biggest assurance has nothing to do with money.
Quite simply Longstaff is keen to know where he features next season and whether he will be given an opportunity to build on his 75 Premier League appearances for the club.
