Neil Redfearn has heaped praise on Newcastle United striker Elias Sorensen and believes that the youngster’s development is best served being out on loan.
Sorensen, 20, joined Carlisle on a season-long loan in the summer transfer but is yet to really stamp his authority in the League Two club’s first team by only earning five appearances across all competitions.
However Newcastle Under-23s boss Redfearn is adamant that Sorensen needs to get his head down and try to force his way into the Carlisle squad rather than returning to Tyneside to play in the reserves.
“It’s different at the Under-23s with Newcastle, he’s a big fish in a little pond as far as reserve team football is concerned,” Redfearn told the Chronicle.
“But you go to a first team environment he has other strikers in front of him and he’ll have to fight his way in.
“Obviously, he’s a top player and only a young kid, so it will be a good experience for him.”
OPINION
Sorenson is one of the most highly-rated young players on the books at Newcastle but the early stages of his career really have not lived up to expectations so far. Last season he spent some time on loan at Blackpool, where he made just one appearance before being recalled earlier than originally scheduled. Now he is at Carlisle and while he’s played more than he did at Bloomfield Road, he’s still not getting enough game-time to suggest that his loan spell has been, at least so far, worthwhile. So what do Newcastle do with him? Redfearn’s comments suggest that the plan is to let him carry on in the North-West and try to play his way into the side. But if that doesn’t happen, is it less damaging for him to be back at Newcastle and at least playing in the Under-23s every week? Premier League 2 is not men’s football like League Two is, but at least there’s some good quality there, the opportunity to play against top players and in big Premier League stadiums.
