Stone: Newcastle fighting Sunderland, Middlesbrough for best local youngsters

Newcastle United coach Steve Stone admits they fighting to be the best place for the region's young talent.

Stone reveals Newcastle have revamped their youth setup in recent years.

He told the Sunday Sun: “It is the way we have to go because I don’t see the club buying £10m-£15m players – I see it buying younger, foreign players and developing the younger talent we have in the North East.

“There is talent in the region. It’s just about making sure we get it and not Sunderland or Middlesbrough or further afield.

“I think it is changing. Joe Joyce has put in a terrific set-up down there along with Willie Donachie that is changing all the time. It’s got more professional.

“Everything is in place now where we will see all of the local young talent.

“The idea now is to get the best through the building and make sure we don’t miss anybody. We have to have scouts at every game in the North East, that is the idea, so we don’t miss anyone.

“We have to make people believe that we’re a club that invests in youth. I think in the past a lot of lads, their dads will have said ‘You’ll never get a chance at Newcastle’. We have to make people aware of the fact that there is a route to the first team.

“I can’t guarantee that we’ll pick up everyone. For a start, can we afford them? Are we prepared to pay the money that other clubs are?

“You’re still seeing clubs like Manchester City who are prepared to pay compensation for these young lads even when we’ve got them.

“They can still buy them at 14, 15 and 16. But we have to be in a position to bring them in in the first place – that is vital.”

 
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