Journalist shares insight as to why youngster Sean Neave hasn't been given game time for Newcastle United
Newcastle United have found it uncharacteristically hard to score goals this season despite having broken their transfer record to bring in a new striker in the summer.
Even though Nick Woltemade has found the net on nine occasions for Newcastle this season, there's a clear issue in terms of the team using him to his best ability.
For a while, Woltemade was our only option up front, with Yoane Wissa and Will Osula both injured.
Eddie Howe found himself turning to academy player Sean Neave to fill out his bench as an attacking option, but he's never actually called upon him to enter the field of play.
Sean Neave is likely to be sent out on loan in January
It seems odd that having a player who is known for banging in goals for the Under 21s isn't being given an opportunity when goals have been so hard to come by, but Chris Waugh has given some insight as to why that may be the case in his latest Q&A for The Athletic.
"With Sean Neave, while he has been training with the first-team squad for much of 2025, he is not deemed ready to make the step up yet. The 18-year-old has not made a competitive appearance, despite being in multiple matchday squads, and there is a strong possibility he will be sent out on loan next month.
"The plan with Neave, like with Leo Shahar, was to keep him on Tyneside for the first half of the season to bolster training numbers for the senior squad and to gain European experience in the UEFA Youth League. But the hope is that, should an appropriate club be found, Neave can gain invaluable first-team minutes on loan.
"What’s more, Neave is not necessarily an out-and-out No 9. He can also play as a No 10 and even as a No 8, so that may be another reason why he has not been thrown on at centre-forward for the first team."
Newcastle could seriously shoot themselves in the foot next month if they let Will Osula and Sean Neave go
The problem with loaning out Sean Neave is that it's becoming increasingly likely that Will Osula will leave the club in January, with Eintracht Frankfurt expected to move for the striker during the window.
If Newcastle don't recruit another striker before allowing him to leave and they also let Neave go out on loan, that leaves Eddie Howe dangerously low on striker options, although he'll argue he still has Anthony Gordon.
Gordon hasn't scored a goal from open play in the Premier League since January. Almost a year. He is not the answer.
