Newcastle youth team coach Peter Beardsley has challenged the club’s latest signing Victor Fernandez to start producing an end product to add to his undoubted ability.
Fernandez joined from Spanish lower league side UE Cornella in February and has been playing on the left wing for the club’s Under 23 side despite only just turning 18.
The Argentinian has impressed with his dribbling skills and his ability to beat defenders with his pace, but Beardsley says he expects more, and wants Fernandez to show he can offer goals and assists. He told the Shields Gazette:
“We have had millions of players in the world who dribble, dribble, dribble. Wingers are the most subbed player in the world – 99% of the time in games wingers are subbed. They have to have an impact on the game. He is a lovely kid but he has to have an impact on the game.”
In 4 matches so far for the Under 23s, Fernandez has started three of them, but has only lasted ninety minutes once against Blackburn in a 2-1 defeat. Last time out against West Ham, the 18 year old had to settle for a place on the bench before coming on as as substitute for the last half hour.
No doubt such an end product will come with time and experience. Working under someone with the experience of Beardsley will certainly help matters as well.
