Newcastle United take Stevenage youngster on trial
Arai played the second-half of the under-23s’ 3-0 defeat to National League North side Blyth Spartans on Tuesday evening.
The 17-year-old attacker was named in Stevenage’s matchday squad for League Two fixtures against Bradford City and Salford City last year but did not make it off the bench.
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Hide AdInstead, Arai was a regular in The Boro’s under-18s, although has appeared for their first-team in pre-season – most recently as a substitute against Watford.
In June 2020, Arai was named as one of the countries stand-out academy players by the League Football Education (LFE).
The award acknowledges the football and academic progress of under-18s players on apprenticeships at current or former EFL clubs and is also designed to assess other factors such as community or charity-based initiatives.
Jorden Gibson, PDP Lead coach at Stevenage said at the time: “I cannot fault Yasin’s professionalism throughout this period.
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Hide Ad"He has been completing his physical and technical programme, while providing us with regular updates on his well-being, as requested by the club.”
Arai will now be monitored by Magpies under-23s coach Chris Hogg.