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These U-21 players could help Newcastle in the FA Cup

By Carson A Merk

NANJING, CHINA - JULY 17: Kelland Watts (R) of Newcastle United in action with Niall Ennis of Wolverhampton Wanderers during the Premier League Asia Trophy 2019 match between Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Olympic Sports Center Stadium on July 17, 2019 in Nanjing, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images for Premier League)
NANJING, CHINA - JULY 17: Kelland Watts (R) of Newcastle United in action with Niall Ennis of Wolverhampton Wanderers during the Premier League Asia Trophy 2019 match between Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Olympic Sports Center Stadium on July 17, 2019 in Nanjing, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images for Premier League) /
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With Newcastle United’s list of injuries growing by the day, these youth players could help fill in for the first team in their FA Cup match vs. Rochdale.

Newcastle United are set to face Rochdale on Saturday in the third round of the FA Cup, but they are far from having their full disposal of players. Against Leicester City, Newcastle lost four players due to injury and DeAndre Yedlin may have broken his hand as well. Add those new injured players to the group of Allan Saint-Maximin, Jamaal Lascelles, and a handful of others. With the limited squad, Steve Bruce would be wise to bring some young players into the mix. These players should be towards the top of that list.

Kelland Watts/Lewis Cass

With injuries and poor form riddling the central defense, Kelland Watts makes the most sense to plug in against Rochdale. He featured for the first team in the preseason and handled himself well. Technically, he’s on loan with Stevenage, but he battled a knock and was spotted in training with the first team before the Leicester City match, so his loan status is up in the air. If he is available for selection, he should be on the NUFC backline vs. Rochdale.

If Watts isn’t available, Cass is a mainstay in the U-23 central defense and he could get the chance to step in. The 19-year-old signed a new contract with Newcastle United last summer.

Victor Fernandez/Thomas Allan

For me, Victor Fernandez is one of the most talented, intriguing players in the reserve side for Newcastle United. He arrived with some fanfare, but he’s battled injuries and inconsistency. This match vs. Rochdale could give Fernandez a chance to showcase his dribbling ability and skill with the first team.

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Like Cass, Allan signed a new deal in the summer of 2018 and he’s done very well for the U-23 side this season. In Premier League 2 action, he has five goals and one assist in ten matches. Either Fernandez or Allan could factor in on the wing with Saint-Maximin still out and a chance to rest Miguel Almiron.

Yannick Toure/Elias Sorensen

Newcastle United has depth up top with Joelinton, Andy Carroll, Dwight Gayle, and Yoshinori Muto. But, if Steve Bruce would prefer trot out a young player, this could be the perfect spot for Yannick Toure or Elias Sorensen. Toure, the tall, rangy 19-year-old, has not been prolific in scoring goals with the reserves, but his ability and potential are both very intriguing and it would be interesting to see him in with the first team.

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The story of Sorensen is more documented. The Danish Geordie has put up major numbers in the youth system, but he’s struggled on loans. He played with the first team in the preseason and this match could be a good way to gauge where his form is right now against a League One side.