Newcastle United winger Callum Roberts faces an unclear future at the club after Rafa Benitez commented on players potentially leaving on loan, according to the Chronicle.
The northern newspaper report that the 21-year-old winger could be kept at the Magpies instead of being loaned out after putting in a memorable display for the U-23s against Sunderland.
The Chronicle report that midfielder Sean Longstaff is likely to stay at St James Park instead of leaving on a temporary basis with the club also being set to have a decision to make about defender Jamie Sterry’s immediate future.
Benitez recently commented on potential loan exits and shared that the club will likely sanction the temporary exit of a few players.
“If you don’t get the chance to play in the first team you can still play with the Under-23s,” stated the Magpies boss, as quoted by the Chronicle.
“You will be training with the first team though. You will always have time afterwards to go out on loan.
“When you get this close it is better to stay around.
“Maybe some will (go out on loan), I have had a conversation with some of them and told them it is better to be around. The experience to be close to the first team now could be really good for them.”
OPINION
Benitez goes on to comment specifically on Roberts and Longstaff so that suggests that both are very likely to be players on the fringes of the manager’s first-team squad for at least the first-half of the season. This is an exciting scenario for both players but also fans of the club. Supporters of the Magpies will no doubt love seeing their academy being used and promising talents being hand opportunities at senior football without departing the club. Roberts was sensational in his latest outing for the Magpies’ U-23 and could be a wild card if deployed on the Magpies’ bench. The attack-minded winger has previously tasted first-team football but it was a few years ago now. Roberts played 11 minutes of an FA Cup clash against Leicester City during the 2014/15 season but hasn’t been afforded another chance to feature for the senior side since. The 21-year-old is a lively player whose not scared to try his luck in front of goal and will definitely be eager to make the most of any minutes Benitez hands him. Hopefully if the 21-year-old sticks around at the club, he will soon add another Magpies first-team appearance to his CV as well as learning from the more experienced players in the squad.
