OPINION
Newcastle United must sanction the exit of 21-year-old winger Callum Roberts otherwise his career will stall like so many before him.
The promising attacker has been in red-hot form for the club’s under-23 side this season and according to Chronicle that has seen him gain attention from multiple clubs in the English Football League as well as the Scottish Premiership.
The newspaper claim that the Magpies could look to loan the winger out due to him being in-demand and it’s a decision they simply should make.
Roberts has scored six goals in 10 appearances this season for the U-23s and has even managed to rack up five assists as well.
The 21-year-old seems to be a real handful for his opponents and looks ready to experience more senior football in order for his development to continue on the right course.
Previously Roberts spent time on loan at Kilmarnock and made 11 appearances for them, while he didn’t set the world alight when with them, it’s clear he learned from his experience in order to return to St James Park a better player.
While Benitez shied away from loaning the winger out in the summer, keeping Roberts locked away in the U-23s isn’t what is best for him.
The winger impressed in pre-season, has been in great form and is still no closer to featuring for the Magpies’ senior side, which suggests that there’s not much he can do to break into the team as he is clearly doing all he can.
It’s understandable that Roberts isn’t deemed ready for the Premier League given his experience but he isn’t going to convince Benitez to play him unless he is playing his football at a higher level than the U-23s.
Therefore the Magpies must greenlight a loan exit for the 21-year-old in January, picking the right team to send him too, otherwise they will just be stuck watching his career stall.
