Why didn't Steve McClaren take this talented Newcastle player to La Manga?

The talented forward has won the Barclays Under-21 Premier League player of the month award for January after scoring two goals in three games.

Roberts netted twice in a 4-2 home win at West Bromwich Albion and also scored in Newcastle's 4-3 Premier League Cup defeat away to Everton.

However, the 18-year-old – who has made his first-team debut in last season's FA Cup defeat to Leicester City – did not make the senior squad for last week's training camp in La Manga, Spain.

United head coach Steve McClaren took 26 players to the training complex.

But pacy Roberts was not included in the travelling party.

The North Shields-born player is a candidate for a loan spell away from Relegation-threatened Newcastle.