Newcastle United reserves coach Peter Beardsley is convinced fullback James Tavernier can make it at St James' Park.
Toon manager Alan Pardew has already admitted Tavernier will start the season in the first-team pool and be given the chance to shine during pre-season, meaning the focus for Beardsley will be to work with a new batch of youngsters.
Beardsley told the Evening Chronicle: "Tav was outstanding. He's stronger physically, he heads it well, and he's obviously an athlete.
"He can run all day, and I'm guessing that was one of the things that stood out when he came to the club.
"All he's got to do is cut out the mistakes and, if he can do that, he's got a real chance."
Beardsley says that Tavernier did well in his loan stint with Gateshead even though it was fifth-flight football in the shape of the Blue Square Premier League.
He said: "It's a good standard and I watched him play against plenty of decent teams."
