Newcastle target Kilmarnock chief for Under-21 role
Newcastle are reportedly targeting Kilmarnock’s head of goalkeeping Fraser Stewart for a role in our Under-21 setup.
Scott Burns at the Daily Record reports that the 37-year-old has been headhunted by Newcastle and would work under Under-21 lead coach Robbie Stockdale if the move goes through.
Stewart has spent the past four years at Rugby Park, but his experience developing young goalkeepers is particularly relevant to the job he could take on here.
What Stewart would bring to Newcastle
Before joining Kilmarnock in 2022, Stewart was the Scottish FA’s head of goalkeeping. He worked with Scotland’s Under-21s and the women’s senior team as they qualified for the 2019 World Cup, having previously coached in Killie’s academy.
His work at Kilmarnock has also extended beyond the first-team keepers. In a club feature published last month, Stewart was credited alongside academy colleagues with establishing a system that brings young goalkeepers from the boys’ and girls’ age groups together for training.
He also highlighted the importance of getting young keepers out to play senior football:
“The success of loans has played a massive part in the development of our young goalkeepers.”
That background would be useful at Newcastle, where two particularly young keepers are already competing for the Under-21 shirt.
George Mair signed his first professional contract on his 17th birthday yesterday, having made his full Under-21 debut against Tamworth in August. He is competing with 16-year-old Roman Dowell and has also spent time training with the first team.
If Stewart does arrive, the Scottish contingent at Newcastle will be growing nicely. We already have Ross Wilson and Jack Ross, both born in Falkirk, plus former Scotland defender Robbie Stockdale overseeing the Under-21s. Who should we expect next? Colin Hendry coaching our young defenders?
