Anthony Munda became the first Newcastle United Under-21s player to secure a loan move this week, joining League Two side Swindon Town for the season. The highly-rated midfielder is expected to be the first of several Magpies youngsters to gain senior experience away from St James' Park.
Neave and Shahar in demand
Sean Neave and Leo Shahar attracted major EFL interest last year, but Newcastle opted to keep them at the club to train with the first team. Both made brief senior debuts in the Champions League play-off round against Qarabag and later played for Robbie Stockdale's Under-21s.
This pre-season, Neave and Shahar have featured throughout the first-team schedule, but they now need consistent senior game time. Another six months or full season in the Under-21s is unlikely to aid their development. EFL scouts from the Championship, League One, and League Two monitored their progress last season, and interest remains high. Offers for loan deals could arrive within the next two weeks.
Widemen to watch
Trevan Sanusi and Matheos Ferreira also gained first-team minutes this summer. Sanusi struggled on loan at Lorient last season but has scored three goals in three games for the Under-21s. He grabbed a goal and an assist in Tuesday's National League Cup defeat to Tamworth, a match that also featured Ferreira.
Ferreira, who can represent England, Brazil, and Italy, scored a hat-trick in an FA Youth Cup win over Portsmouth and another for the Under-21s against Aston Villa last season. He featured in friendlies against Gateshead and Bristol City this summer. "I came off the bench against Gateshead a few weeks ago and I didn't feel overwhelmed or nervous in that moment," Ferreira told Newcastle's official matchday programme. "I was just excited to get out there and play football. I made another appearance for the first team at Bristol City which was a great experience, in front of 3,000 away fans at a good stadium."
Ferreira added: "It's the tip of the iceberg as I want more of those opportunities going forward and I'll keep working hard to achieve that. I've been trying to set new goals each day and stay consistent. I feel in a good place, both physically and mentally. I've worked hard on my body during the off-season and I'm fully focused for what is ahead. I hope to keep performing well and impacting games for the u21s this season whilst trying to get more opportunities with the first team and seeing where it takes me. It would be a dream to make my Premier League debut for my boyhood club."
Cordero's Cadiz impact
Antonio Cordero rejoined Cadiz on a season-long loan this summer and has made an instant impact. He scored free-kicks in back-to-back pre-season games and played the full 90 minutes of Cadiz's opening Segunda Liga match against Celta Vigo II. The 19-year-old, who signed from Malaga last summer, is expected to have a big season in Spain before returning to Newcastle, where he has a contract until 2030.
Former academy defender 'at home' with Hebburn Town
Former Newcastle United academy defender Joe Oliver joined Hebburn Town last summer and has started all three of their National League North fixtures this season. Hebburn, who have secured four promotions in eight years, won the Northern Premier League Premier Division title last season to reach the National League North for the first time. Oliver's side have taken seven points from home games with Southport and Worksop Town and an away match at Brackley Town. "I think it's the most I've enjoyed my football ever in my career - and I think that comes from the group we have got here and the management team, the atmosphere and the environment," Oliver told Chronicle Live. "I have found a home here. We all gel together as one, we have that core here and the gaffer doesn't make too many changes so that helps the togetherness we have."
