Newcastle United U-23’s coach Ben Dawson has heaped praise on teenage sensation Elias Sorensen, but has identified an area the youngster can improve.
The forward notched an impressive brace against Fulham’s U-23’s on Monday, bringing his record to five goals in five starts for the second string Magpies.
And Dawson provided a balanced assessment of the 19-year-old’s progress: “He’s still learning and we are still working with him on the pitch everyday. He is getting into some good positions,” he told the Chronicle.
“Now it is about the finer details of playing up against experienced centre-halves. His movement and timing needs to be slightly better,” he finished.
OPINION
It’s good to see a coach come out and praise a youngster while providing specific details on the ways in which he can improve. The Newcastle supporters were delighted with Sorensen’s efforts against the Cottagers on Monday, with some of them even calling for him to be involved with Rafael Benitez’s first team set up, but the club must move him along patiently. It seems like that’s what Dawson is doing, although he does mention Sorensen going up against experienced centre halves, which suggests he might be involved with Benitez’s charges before too long. Obviously it would be good for the 19-year-old to get used to playing against Premier League defenders in training, but he shouldn’t be rushed into the first team picture too soon. Newcastle have been struggling up front, and they could definitely use the inspiration, so if Benitez deems Sorensen to be ready then he might get a look in the coming weeks, but it’s all about patience with young players.
