John Anderson calls for two Newcastle loan moves - Wasn't impressed on Monday
BBC Radio Newcastle's John Anderson has called for the club to send two players out on loan after being “disappointed” with performances against Leicester City.
Victory over the Foxes at the King Power Stadium on Monday night was secured by half-time, with a Jacob Murphy brace added to by a Harvey Barnes goal against his former club.
With the game all but done, Eddie Howe made second half changes to hand some of our fringe players minutes. However, Anderson feels two talents didn't take their chance and should be considered for loan moves next season.
Anderson calls for two loans
Will Osula and Lewis Miley would both benefit from a spell on loan should Newcastle be able to reinforce their positions this summer, according to John Anderson.
On Monday night, a double midfield switch in the 65th minute saw Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes depart for Miley and Sean Longstaff. Ando believes 18-year-old Miley should have been able to control the game, and may see his development stunted fighting for minutes with the Brazilian duo and Sandro Tonali.
A "really raw" Osula came on alongside Callum Wilson shortly after with Alexander Isak and Jacob Murphy departing, and didn’t impress Anderson, who spoke on BBC Radio Newcastle after the 3-0 win:
"If things aren't going well in the game, you want to turn to your bench thinking 'he can come on and provide something'. Two goalkeepers on the bench shows you where we are - we're down to the bare bones as far as that is concerned.
"Osula came on, ran around and still looks really, really raw. Everything is 100mph. And he looks a little bit away.
"Disappointed with Miley (against Leicester). That was the type of game he could've come on and got a hold of it. You forget how young he is and you expect a bit more because of what we've seen in the past.
"I just think he's got quality and just needs to play more games. But will he get that with those three (Tonali, Bruno and Joelinton) in there? It's going to be difficult."
Asked if Miley and Osula need a loan move, Ando added: "It'll be interesting to see what happens over the summer. We haven't got the depth to loan them out at this moment in time.
"I can understand (the need to loan them out). Osula needs to get out (on loan) and probably Miley as well, but it all depends on how many come in during the summer transfer window."
Would they get minutes next season?
As Anderson correctly points out, recruitment this summer will have a say in whether or not the pair will be loaned out. Having European football to contend with, and a Carabao Cup to defend, there may be enough minutes to go around with the squad as it is.
However, if another striker comes through the door then where will Osula pick up minutes? Liam Delap is being talked about as a summer arrival with a £30m release clause should Ipswich be relegated, you would imagine he would become second choice striker.
At 21, what would a loan look like for Osula at this stage in his development? You would have to hope it would be at a team competing at the top end of the Championship, otherwise are we better off developing him in-house?
Miley on the other hand is already trusted by Howe and is at a key stage in his development, all indications are that he would get enough minutes and would step into Longstaff’s role.
Still only 18, Miley has shown plenty that he is capable of fitting into a Premier League midfield this season - it wasn’t so long ago he was excellent against Nottingham Forest, but of course he isn’t yet the finished article.
It would prove a risk to send the settled teenager away from his hometown club and his family while he benefits from training with Howe and his coaching staff, and learning from the likes of Sandro Tonali and Bruno G.
