Good news today that 19 year-old Gael Bigirimana has been named in the final squad of 21 to play in the U20 World Cup in Turkey next month.
Gael Bigirimana – he always seem to have a smile on his face
18 year-old Adam Campbell had also been in the provisional squad, but unfortunately he didn’t make it in the final squad, and we have to remember Adam’s about 14 months younger than Gael, who joined us from Coventry City last summer for £1M, and looks a stellar signing for the future.
The two of them are probably the two most exciting youngsters coming through the ranks at Newcastle at the moment, and could make great headway as early as next season.
Gael played 25 times for Newcastle last season, with a single stupendous goal against Wigan, and seems to just love it on Tyneside, and of course Adam is a local lad from North Shields, and love of the club is therefore already in his genes. 😀
Adam is currently playing for the England U19 side in their European Championship Elite Round qualifiers, and scored just over a week ago for the side.
Gael will report to the England squad next Monday at St. George’s Park and the squad flies out to Turkey nine days later – 12th June – to get ready for the tournament.
England have been drawn in a group that includes Iraq, Chile and Egypt, and it now is well worthwhile following the tournament with Gael now in the squad, and we would expect him to start for England, but we’ll have to wait and see.
This lad has a great attitude, loves it on Tyneside, and is a bit of a joker, as we’ve seen him fooling around when the camera is on him in training – he seems a smashing lad – and he could become a top class central midfielder for Newcastle.
And not to leave Adam Campbell out this, the 18 year-old has always looked like a young Michael Owen, and when Michael was 18 – he was simply awesome – until injuries and particularly a bad hamstring injury took some of his natural speed away.
Both these lads are exciting youngsters at Newcastle.
Here is the full England U-20 squad – any youngsters we should be looking to sign?
Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone (Manchester United), George Long (Sheffield United), Connor Ripley (Middlesbrough)
Defenders: Sam Byram (Leeds United), Eric Dier (Sporting Lisbon), Jon Flanagan (Liverpool), Jamaal Lascelles (Nottingham Forest), Danny Potts (West Ham United), Adam Reach (Middlesbrough), John Stones (Everton), Tom Thorpe (Manchester United)
Midfielders: Ross Barkley (Everton), Gael Bigirimana (Newcastle United), Conor Coady (Liverpool), Larnell Cole (Manchester United), John Lundstram (Everton), James Ward Prowse (Southampton)
Forwards: Chris Long (Everton), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Alex Pritchard (Tottenham Hotspur), Luke Williams (Middlesbrough)
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224 comments so far
Jail for Ashley
May 28, 2013 at 5:41 PM
Comment #1being held upside down in sour mustard is too good for Ashley .
Indian Magpie
May 28, 2013 at 5:44 PM
Comment #2Having to tip more than usual is too good for ashley
toonarmydownsouth
May 28, 2013 at 5:44 PM
Comment #3Good for bigi, been so impressed with this lad only bad game he’s had for us was vs benfica, the lad looks great to the point if tiote left I’d be confident with what we had in him perch Anita sissoko
Indian Magpie
May 28, 2013 at 5:50 PM
Comment #4I am sure he will be better than Beckham on the right side
Spoof
May 28, 2013 at 5:52 PM
Comment #5If we think back to the Brighton game, we had quite a few squad players on show for that game, but how many made an effort, Bigi did, that’s probably why he will make the grade, having ability is not enough, you have to work hard as well.
donkey
May 28, 2013 at 5:54 PM
Comment #6has anybody got any videos of Adam Campbell heard lots of hype about him but never seen him play
toonarmydownsouth
May 28, 2013 at 5:55 PM
Comment #7Spoof
This lad has bags of ability coupled with hard graft, not easy to be named championship apprentice of the season
Really think he will be a great player, just hope if we’re not going to use him much this season we get him out on loan, Cardiff hull or palace would be absolutely ideal for him
toonarmydownsouth
May 28, 2013 at 5:57 PM
Comment #8Out of interest does anyone know how many teams Kevin Phillips has got promoted?? The blokes like the championship master but always moves on when he’s got a club promoted madness!
toonarmydownsouth
May 28, 2013 at 6:09 PM
Comment #9Donkey
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iOctW0gNrAY
This is his hatrick vs spuds, the lad looks a decent prospect
But IMO he’s nowhere near prem standard atm and needs a spell on loan in the championship, none of this league 1 or SPL bollox!
Think he gets slightly more hype than most because he’s a local lad and i still think bigi is the best prospect we have on the books
Just hope little Adam can cope with the pressure of the hype hate to see him become another academy failure like tozer, or dare I say increasingly like poor vuckic….
TimKrulFan
May 28, 2013 at 6:10 PM
Comment #10Will never know why he was dropped, at the beginning of the season he was imense and he was also fantastic against arsenal.
toonarmydownsouth
May 28, 2013 at 6:16 PM
Comment #11Kolo in skertl out? Not really a upgrade tbf
JAMSHA
May 28, 2013 at 6:17 PM
Comment #12why isnt shola in the squad?
Spoof
May 28, 2013 at 6:21 PM
Comment #13tads
I couldn’t agree more, especially with the loan choice, I can’t see the benefit of loaning to Gateshead or a poor Scottish league where the standard is so poor that he would not have to try too much to dominate a game, first team experience with whom you have mentioned or even with a Championship side would bring him on leaps and bounds
toonarmydownsouth
May 28, 2013 at 6:22 PM
Comment #14Jamsha
Why isn’t shola in the U21 England squad?
Because he’s 31
Spoof
May 28, 2013 at 6:24 PM
Comment #15tads
don’t split hairs, overage players. lol
JAMSHA
May 28, 2013 at 6:25 PM
Comment #16lol i tought he still.playd for u21s…. btwn sammy should be in u21 too..
Indian Magpie
May 28, 2013 at 6:25 PM
Comment #1716 year olds play better than shola
donkey
May 28, 2013 at 6:26 PM
Comment #18toonarmydownsouth cheers look pretty good but think we defently need to loan him out for next season to the championship see how he gets on
toonarmydownsouth
May 28, 2013 at 6:26 PM
Comment #19Spoof
I just don’t understand our youth set up tbh, the reserves league is p1ss poor tbf and should be used for fringe youth lads and players coming back to fitness
And why do we wait until there 20-21 before loaning them out to poor leagues?
I mean take sammy and fergy, I doubt these lads will make the grade, not trying to be harsh on the but they should of spent the last 2-3 seasons on loan, not just this season at there age, it doesn’t just happen over night they need the experience or they will never push the starting 11
Indian Magpie
May 28, 2013 at 6:27 PM
Comment #20and he is nigerian
toonarmydownsouth
May 28, 2013 at 6:27 PM
Comment #21Donkey
He defiantly has the raw talent but yeah he needs that competitive experience
JAMSHA
May 28, 2013 at 6:28 PM
Comment #22anyways…. buena nochez,,, (sleep)
JAMSHA
May 28, 2013 at 6:30 PM
Comment #23fergi is goin to birm on loan… deal done for nxt season
toonarmydownsouth
May 28, 2013 at 6:34 PM
Comment #24Would love to see us bring in jordy clasie from feyernoord
Sack Llambias
May 28, 2013 at 6:35 PM
Comment #25Let’s get Nathan Redmond in a swap deal for Fergie. Might need to throw in somecashas well.
toonarmydownsouth
May 28, 2013 at 6:36 PM
Comment #26@FootyHumour: Falcao, James Rodriguez & Moutinho sign for newly promoted Monaco. That’s like Suarez, Bale & Wilshere signing for Cardiff City!
Spoof
May 28, 2013 at 6:36 PM
Comment #27tads
a while ago we had Beardsley, Waddle and Gazza coming through, granted not all from youth level but they were brought in with the intention of developing them, we then had the likes of Clarkie and Steve Watson, but since then only Stevie Taylor has had an impact on the first team, I do feel that there is a lack of quality coming from the North East, we are no longer the hot bed that we were a few years ago, but even when we bring talented youngsters in we just cannot get them to fulfill their potential, there is something which is severely wrong with our set up, and we cannot blame Ashley or Pardew, because it has been like this for years, well before they came onto the scene, what it is I don’t know, but we could do a lot worse than just revamp the whole structure and start from square one
SeanNufc87
May 28, 2013 at 6:37 PM
Comment #28Out of the youngsters if seen play I’d say the top prospects have to be, bigi, Ameobi (not sure why he gets so much stick) and dummet, vuckic if he can get his injuries sorted.
Fringe or squad players from fergie, trav, good and I’ve not seen enough of abied to suggest he’s better for now.
Campbell the few times in first team, milk cup n what not he’s looked amazing but I agree with what people are saying, championship stint would do him the world of good. Unfortunately we didn’t have the backup for it this season.
Spoof
May 28, 2013 at 6:37 PM
Comment #29And Andy Carroll
DevonToon
May 28, 2013 at 6:38 PM
Comment #30Anyone done the mags which 6 would you keep survey? Interesting to see tim krul is top of the vote… I believe keepers are the easiest to replace…
SeanNufc87
May 28, 2013 at 6:40 PM
Comment #31Spoof
I agree, we need a set up like Boro, they have brought some top quality players through the ranks.
toonarmydownsouth
May 28, 2013 at 6:41 PM
Comment #32Spoof
Completely agree, the whole thing needs starting from scratch, I’ve said it so many times but a prem club with the facilities we have its disgraceful to have a category B academy, as it stands worryingly the Mackems have a more appealing youth set up for youngsters in the area looking to get signed
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
May 28, 2013 at 6:41 PM
Comment #33Spoof…I lost Biffs results book, but if you find the DeLorean, go back to the summer of 2012 and place a bet on Newcastle not scoring from one corner 😉
On Anita, I too was slightly underwhelmed from his opening fixtures, but as Tequila said, I do feel he was starting to get to grips with things the more he played. As for MOTM performances, to be completely honest, it wasn’t that hard to achieve in our team this season 🙂
Indian Magpie
May 28, 2013 at 6:42 PM
Comment #34Some fans have been saying this to Pardew
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV1LzXf1TKQ
SeanNufc87
May 28, 2013 at 6:44 PM
Comment #35Devon toon
Not at first pick international level with prem experience I’m actually struggling to think of any in prem in the top 8 countries? Cesar from QPR but they are championship lol
toonarmydownsouth
May 28, 2013 at 6:45 PM
Comment #36Devon
If krul went I’d want vorm in ASAP!!
Sadly the Mackems have a cracking keeper 🙁
Spoof
May 28, 2013 at 6:46 PM
Comment #37Ibiza
or how about jumping forward to September 2013 and placing a bet that Newcastle will not spend more than £10m on a single player in the 2013 summer transfer window, even with the benefit of hindsight I would imagine that the bookies would have it as a close call
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
May 28, 2013 at 6:48 PM
Comment #38Spoof…. 🙂
Spoof
May 28, 2013 at 6:49 PM
Comment #39Anyway, I must go, see you all later
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
May 28, 2013 at 6:50 PM
Comment #40Catch you in the past good sir!