Newcastle United Loan Watch: 23/24, Part 1

The first data-led check-in on the performances of the players out on loan from Newcastle United.

In a recent interview with UFCB, Dan Ashworth, Newcastle United’s Sporting Director, outlined the importance of developing players to meet the club’s medium terms goals:

“The vision set by the Newcastle United board is to be a sustainable top six club. Sustainable brings in things like the academy, so it’s really important that we progress players through the academy, so they can feel connected as to how that vision will work.”

To make this vision a reality, the players recruited at youth levels – or purchased to augment this – need to experience the cut and thrust of first-team football to help them physically and mentally mature.

For all but the most exceptional talents, the road to being able to cope with the intensity, physicality and pace of the Premier League is likely to include a number of loan moves in leagues of less quality.

So with that in mind, let’s take a look at how some of this year’s loan army are getting on at their respective clubs.

🚨 Before I share some radars, a word of warning🚨 All of the youngsters featured on this list have yet to play a robust sample of games, so their output could change significantly for better or worse in the coming weeks and months.

Yankuba Minteh (Winger)

Signed in the summer and sent straight on loan to Feyenoord, Minteh has enjoyed a pretty good start to his time in Rotterdam and a section of Newcastle United fans have suggested he should be recalled. This is not something I agree with for two reasons:

1. He’s going to get more valuable minutes and on-field experience which is essential to his development.

2. He’s still making too many mistakes to be ready to play at Premier League level.

With that being said, Minteh’s early form at Feyenoord is hugely encouraging. He’s taking nearly four shots per 90, getting plenty of touches in the opposition box which are combining to push his xG numbers in the 99th percentile for his position.

Encouragingly, his shot selection looks more than decent for a young player and his ability to dribble past players helps him get his shots away (see the diamond shapes on the shot map below).

Balancing his natural inclination to try to beat his man and carry the ball, with picking the right moments for the team to attempt this is the next stage of Minteh’s development and one of the reasons he’s not cemented a starting role so far.

Still, as loan spells go, this has gotten off to an exciting start and Minteh’s off-the-ball work is already suggesting that he’ll be a good fit for Howe’s pressing style. As a left-footed attacker, there’s enough to suggest that he could be a good backup to Almiron. One to watch out for next preseason.

Garang Kuol (Winger)

After a short spell in Scotland to help him settle on the other side of the world – a reality that seemed lost on some fans after he signed – Kuol is now plying his trade at Eredivisie minnows FC Volendam where he’s mainly been playing from the left wing.

Given the quality of the team he’s playing for, it’s only natural that his performances haven’t been quite as eye-catching as Minteh’s. Even so, he has a goal and an assist to his name so far and will be better for the experience of playing regularly in a relegation-threatened team.

Harrison Ashby (Fullback)

Ashby has had a mixed start to his loan spell at Swansea. Having started the first five games of the season on the right of a back five, Ashby then lost his place to Josh Key when manager Michael Duff changed his system to a back four.

An injury to Key has since handed Ashby another run of game sin the first team and his performances have improved. His battle for minutes is one to keep an eye on.

Joe White (Midfielder)

Once thought of in local circles as a similar level of ability as Elliott Anderson. Hite’s Newcastle career has yet to really ignite (and may never do so). However, after a slow start at Crewe Alexandra, he has worked his way into the starting lineup and has bagged a goal and an assist as a reward for his efforts. Interested to see whether he can keep his place for the rest of the season.

Matty Bondswell (Fullback)

At certain times during preseason friendlies, Bondwell’s athleticism helped him to not look out of place amongst Newcastle’s first-team squad, but the reality was always of a young defender needing a lot of minutes to push his development along. After a slow start to his time at Newport, he’s another who has worked his way into the first team and his quality on the ball looks interesting. With just 15 senior appearances at the age of 21, it feels like Bondswell really needed this loan move to kick on. Promising start, even if it’s a relatively low level of football.

Max Thompson (Goalkeeper)

Finally, a goalkeeper. This is perhaps the one position – even during the Ashley years – where the academy managed to bring through a few players of note. I’ve not seen Thompson play yet, but injuries to Lee Burge are giving him the chance to play and the 19-year-old is holding his own in League One. Encouraging signs.