OPINION
With a record of 11 goals this season including two hat-tricks, it is no wonder that Newcastle fans have been clamouring to see young gun Elias Sorensen given a shot in the first-team.
The 19-year-old Dane has been the highlight of what has been a promising season for the Magpies development squad, with his latest match-winning performance coming in a 5-2 win over Aston Villa this week.
His red-hot form in front of goal has seen Newcastle fans put his name forward for a first-team role, with the current options in the senior set-up really failing to fire this season.
It seems however that the club are urging patience on Sorensen, with Under-23s manager Ben Dawson telling the club website: “The manager has spoken about how they need experience at a time like this, and I agree. The last thing we want to do, when someone is on a real high, is put them in a situation that could make or break him.”
“We’re erring more on the side that he’s doing really well for us at the moment. He’s scoring a lot of goals, but he’s still got a lot to learn, and it might be just too big of a jump for him at the moment.”
There is no doubt that the jump from playing for an Under-23 side, even one of high standard, to the Premier League is a significant one, but the club are missing the point altogether by crushing Sorensen’s first-team hopes.
The fact is that Sorensen is in the form of his life, while those deemed worthy of a first-team spot such as Joselu and Ayoze Perez are totally flopping this season.
There has been little evidence to suggest that this current Newcastle attacking line up has what it takes to compete at Premier League level, with Salomon Rondon and Yoshinori Muto the only two to show that they may have what it takes.
So, what would be the harm in giving a motivated young player in the form of his career so far the chance to help the first-team out in a time of need?
No one is expecting Sorensen to come in and start banging in goals left, right and centre at the top level, but merely to make some kind of impact on a floundering attacking unit.
Maybe his presence will force those current players to buck up their ideas and give them that kick up the backside they need to start performing at a higher level?
The fact is that Newcastle have little to lose in this situation, and the claim that Sorensen could be broken by failing if he is promoted is ludicrous.
What young player wouldn’t want the chance to play first-team football? Even if he does not manage the step up it will be the experience of his life so far and will surely motivate him to work harder and get better.
All in all, the club are making the wrong decision here, and are taking a damaging stance on promoting young players who at least deserve a chance.
