Newcastle United striker Adam Armstrong has talked about how Magpies manager Rafa Benitez told him that he wanted the forward to go out on loan in the Championship this season to gain more experience at a higher level.
The 19 year old spent last season out on loan at League One side Coventry City scoring an impressive 20 league goals in 38 starts, and was loaned out to Championship side Barnsley until January before the end of the transfer window. He told his new club’s official website that he believes Barnsley is the right club for him as he looks to make the step up a league:
“At the start of the season I had a chat with Rafa Benitez and he said his plans for me were to go out in the Championship and get more minutes than I would with Newcastle. I chose Barnsley and I think it’s the right club and they’re heading in the right direction.”
“It’s a massive stage in my career, last year in League One was hard, we had ups and downs but I think I coped with it quite well. The Championship is the next step and hopefully this will be a good season for us.”
The signings of Daryl Murphy from Ipswich Town and Dwight Gayle from Crystal Palace this summer, in addition to Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ayoze Perez already being at the club, meant that Armstrong’s game time at St James’ Park would have been severely restricted this season so the move to the Tykes seems like the best move for everybody.
