These former forwards weren’t guaranteed similar success at Newcastle

With two former forwards having success in the lower division, it’s unrealistic to assume they would’ve done the same for Newcastle United.

When you look at the top goalscorers in the Championship, the top two names have something in common. Not only are they the only two players in the second division with double-digit goals, but both Adam Armstrong and Ivan Toney are former Newcastle United players.

Armstrong has 11 goals with Blackburn Rovers and Toney has scored ten for Brentford. While it’s fair to look at their successes with rose-colored glasses and think of “what might have been”, it is not reasonable to assume they would have done the exact same things with Newcastle.

Ideally, your favorite club can keep every single player that may end up being a solid contributor someday. But, it’s not realistic. Newcastle loaned Armstrong and Toney out multiple times and they found varying levels of success. Outside of a big 2015/16 season in League One, Armstrong never was a top goalscorer on his loan spells. Toney had never even scored double-digit goals in a season before he left Newcastle on a full transfer.

Could they both have stuck around and either been loaned out or got a chance with the first team? Sure. But, they were far from guaranteed to find this type of success. If they struggled, supporters would’ve ridiculed them and maybe they lose confidence and never find their form.

Sure, before Callum Wilson, the club was desperate for a reliable striker. But, there’s no assurance that Armstrong or Toney would’ve been ready for that chance. This is soccer and business decisions were made. Perhaps, one or both of them will make a triumphant return to the club someday. Or, maybe both players struggle to score down the stretch or in future seasons. Sports are impossible to predict and it’s unfair to pretend that Newcastle should have known this would happen with two young strikers.