Newcastle United manager Matthias Jaissle is considering handing 19-year-old centre-forward Afner Ca his Premier League debut in the upcoming clash with Crystal Palace, a move that could catch opposing defences off guard.
The 6ft 4in teenager was included in the matchday squad for Saturday's home game against Aston Villa, but was ultimately not named on the bench, instead serving as cover in case of a warm-up injury.
Reserve Striker in Contention
Ca, who has been training with the first team all week, could now be a viable option if Newcastle are chasing a goal, especially after Jaissle opted to push 6ft 7in Dan Burn into attack against Villa.
The club signed Ca from Levante in the summer on a five-year deal. In July, he said: "The project here, the lifestyle, and the club's ambition made this the right move for me. I'm a forward who likes to find space, link play, and work hard for the team. Scoring goals is a big part of my game, but my focus is always on contributing to the group, whatever helps the team win."
Manager's Brave Approach
Jaissle has indicated this season would be a brave project, and handing the Under-21 star a chance after just two months and three goals in the second string would fit that approach. Last week, he vowed: "It's a brave journey the club is going to and I'm fully committed in that. So now, if there is one setback, we shouldn't delete our journey or our vision. No, we are fully committed. We are fully aligned. We anticipated that, that something like that against Leeds happened, or is happening also in the next weeks and month. Then it's just on us to respond, But still believing, We don't change it."
Sporting Director Ross Wilson added: "We're pleased to see Afner join our Academy. He's an exciting profile who has shown real growth over the last couple of seasons, having developed well during this time in both Portugal and Spain. We're committed to adding talented young players who can grow with us. We're excited to work with him in our development programme."
Fans Eager to See Ca in Action
Ca was pictured in training in the official photos released ahead of the Palace match, and some supporters would welcome the chance to see him play. While it remains uncertain whether he will get his Premier League opportunity, his continued inclusion signals Jaissle's willingness to give youth a chance when he sees fit.
