Newcastle United drew 1-1 with Sunderland in the under-21s Tyne-Wear derby at Whitley Park on Monday night.
A crowd of 839 were in attendance as the young Magpies broke the deadlock 20 minutes in when Anthony Munda latched onto a defencing pass by Alfie Harrison.
Newcastle had chances to extend their advantage but the Black Cats dominated the majority of the second-half and got a deserved equaliser in the 87th minute when substitute Timur Tuterov headed home.
Here’s our five talking points from the evening:
From Berlin to… Benton
It’s funny how football works sometimes.
It was only five weeks ago Trippier was part of the England squad that lost the Euro 2024 final to Spain in front of 65,600 fans at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
But such is Trippier’s commitment to Newcastle, and his desire to return to full fitness, that he was willing to run out for the under-21s at a open Whitley Park.
The 33-year-old continues to be linked with a move away from St James’ Park this summer but appears on nothing other than winning his place back from Tino Livramento at right-back.
By default, Trippier will probably feel better for the 45 minutes he got, although he wasn’t really tested defensively by Costa Rica international Jewison Bennette, nor did he venture forward as much as we’re used to seeing.
The forgotten man
Newcastle United left-back Matt Targett. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)Newcastle United left-back Matt Targett. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
Newcastle United left-back Matt Targett. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Matt Targett, remember him? This marked the 28-year-old’s first appearance for nine months.
Targett hadn’t featured since the 3-0 win away to Manchester United in the Carabao Cup on November 1 after injuring his hamstring. Once he recovered from that in March, the left-back suffered an Achilles tear.
It forced him to miss the rest of the 2023-24 campaign and pre-season. He resumed first-team last week before he too played the first-half against the Black Cats.
“It’s been a long road to recovery for me, first with my hamstring, I was then back for a week and had a tear in Achilles so it a kick in the teeth,” Targett told NUFCTV. “I worked really hard during this time. I feel fit, strong and happy to be back. It’s now time to build on that [the 45 minutes].
“It was a great opportunity to get some minutes, especially having trained the whole of last week. I looked at the schedule to see where I can get the minutes in because it’s really important after missing the whole pre-season. The 21s was perfect to get some minutes.”
Similar to Trippier, Targett didn’t have an awful lot to do, although did come up against a senior opponent in Ian Poveda, who Sunderland signed from Leeds United last month.
The former Aston Villa left-back is now eyeing his first-team comeback against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup next week.
Picking up where they left off
Newcastle United teenager winger Trevan Sanusi. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)Newcastle United teenager winger Trevan Sanusi. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)
Newcastle United teenager winger Trevan Sanusi. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
They caught the eye in pre-season for Eddie Howe’s first-team, so it is perhaps no surprise that Trevan Sanusi and Jamie Miley were head and shoulders above many of their teammates.
Sanusi – a livewire once again – displayed his unpredictable trickery, sometimes too much for Sunderland right-back Thomas Lavery.
The assumption is many of the 800+ in attendance were there to see England international Trippier, but Sanusi too is proving exciting to watch and even at his tender age is capable of getting you on the edge of your seat.
Watch Geordie Journos on ShotsTV! Marc Guehi & why Steve Parish may lack respect
At 17-years-old, there is still a long way to go before Sanusi becomes the finished article but his raw talent is undeniable. It is why United officials want to keep the winger in house for now, rather than rush a loan spell.
On the other hand, Miley looks primed for a loan spell. It was too easy for him against Sunderland. The 20-year-old midfielder was composed in possession and barely wasted a pass.
The under-21s manager search
A look back at the last Hibs team to take on Forfar Athletic. (Getty Images)A look back at the last Hibs team to take on Forfar Athletic. (Getty Images)
A look back at the last Hibs team to take on Forfar Athletic. (Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dawson had been at the club for 10 years, first joining as a Professional Development Coach in 2014 as well as serving as under-21s Lead Coach and and Academy Head of Coaching.
From 2021, Dawson held the position of First Team Development Coach, a position that saw him work closely Eddie Howe and his coaching staff to bring the club’s first team and academy closer together and enhancing the club’s talent pathway.
Whilst the search for his successor continues, former Sunderland manager Jack Ross and long-serving academy man Neil Winskill are sharing the responsibilities.
Paul Mitchell and Eddie Howe watch on
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Both sporting director Paul Mitchell and head coach Howe were in attendance at Whitley Park – at least for the first-half anyway – and sat side-by-side.
And there will be no guesses as to what fans hope the pair were talking about. With only 10 days of the summer transfer window remaining, Newcastle need to get a move on.
This week, the club – and Mitchell – must decide whether to launch a fifth bid for Marc Guehi and accept they will have overpay for the £65million-rated Crystal Palace defender, or explore other alternatives.
Although on paper United have brought in four new faces this summer, none immediately improve the starting XI – and that is a concern when European qualification is the aim.
Lloyd Kelly can be that player but didn’t start the opener against Southampton. Will Osula is third choice to Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson. Goalkeepers Odysseas Vlachodimos and John Ruddy didn’t even make the squad at the weekend.
At least one guaranteed starter is needed, otherwise this window will go down as a major disappointment, if not failure.
