Newcastle United Under-21s grabbed a 2-1 National League Cup win at Hartlepool United last night.
Summer signing Kyran Thompson went from brushing shoulders with the Newcastle United first-team on Monday night to scoring for the Under-21s on Tuesday night.
The 17-year-old was part of the travelling squad for the Premier League defeat at Coventry City on Monday night but wasn’t named on the bench in the match. But he was straight into the starting line-up for Newcastle Under-21s less than 24 hours later in their 2-1 National League Cup win at Hartlepool United.
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While the win was ultimately a consolation for the Young Magpies as they are unable to progress out of the group, Thompson’s start to life on Tyneside continues to catch the eye.
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The teenager joined Newcastle from Arsenal in the summer with the initial plan of joining up with the Under-18s squad. But since his arrival, he has broken into the Under-21s set-up and impressed while also putting himself on Matthias Jaissle’s first-team radar. Last month, he was named on the bench for the Premier League win over Hull City and would have been named on the bench again at Coventry had any players dropped out due to injury.
Thompson has also since signed his first professional contract at Newcastle.
At Hartlepool, the young winger gave the visitors an early lead with a close-range finish from Johnny Emerson’s ball. Jack Nolan equalised for Hartlepool midway through the first half before Thompson claimed his second of the evening with his deflected strike finding the net.
The goal was later awarded as a Charlie Penman own goal, but Thompson’s clear role in it was there for all 107 of the travelling Newcastle support at Victoria Park to see.
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Kyran Thompson - NUFC is a great project’
Newcastle fought off stiff competition to land Thompson in the summer, including Arsenal’s rivals Tottenham Hotspur. But the winger was convinced by the project and pathway presented to him on Tyneside.
"I want to keep smashing it with the Under-21s and keep starting, getting goals and assists," Thompson said. "I want to try and break into the first team.
"Newcastle is a great project with playing young players. Once I get my opportunity, it's about taking it with both hands and showing everyone what I can do."