Toon talent impressing Eddie Howe in training - “He’s like a new signing"

Eddie Howe has been speaking about Joe White after the young midfielder made his Premier League debut for Newcastle United on Saturday.

The 21-year-old Geordie spent the first half of the 2023/24 season on loan at Crewe, where he impressed at the League Two side before returning in January.

Howe has revealed that White has "really matured" during his time away and has trained "really, really well", insisting his cameo over the weekend was fully deserved and a reward for his impressive displays in training.

The Toon boss even suggests he's been "almost like a new signing" and has earned his trust by performing behind the scenes and doing "really well" during his brief spell on the pitch in Saturday's 2-2 draw.

“Talking individually about Joe, he’s come back from a loan spell and really matured." Howe said. "That loan spell did him the world of good, and he's trained really, really well.

“I’m very, very pleased with him. He’s been almost like a new signing for us and of course by training well, you earn my trust. I thought it was a good moment to put him on the pitch for his Premier League debut. I thought he did really well, so I’m delighted with him.”

White is 21 and out of contract next summer, but Howe's comments give us hope that he could yet follow on Elliot Anderson and Lewis Miley's first-team footsteps.