Newcastle United pip Sunderland and hand hot-shot non-league striker a trial

Newcastle United have handed a trial to one of North East non-league football’s most in-form strikers – and pipped Sunderland in the process.
Hebburn Town.Hebburn Town.
Hebburn Town.

Hebburn Town frontman Cedwyn Scott has plundered his way to 20 goals in his last nine games in all competitions as his side moved seven points clear at the top of the Ebac Northern League Division One table.

The 21-year-old striker spent time at Huddersfield Town’s academy before going on to make his first senior appearances in Scotland during spells with Dundee, Berwick Rangers and Forfar Athletic.

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Scott headed back to England to go on trial at Darlington during the summer of 2019 but went on to join Dunston UTS before moving to Hebburn in the early weeks of 2020.

The Hexham-born player has hit a purple patch in front of goal in recent weeks – including a double hat-trick in a Durham Challenge Cup win against Washington - to attract the attention of a number of clubs from higher up the league pyramid.

League One neighbours Sunderland had two representatives at the Green Energy Sports Ground last weekend to watch the 21-year-old as he scored twice in a 5-2 win against Newcastle Benfield.

And at least one other EFL club – believed to be League Two club Morecambe - were on South Tyneside on Saturday as Scott added another two goals to his ever-growing tally in a 4-0 win against Northallerton Town.

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However, it is Newcastle that have made the first official move to cast their eye over the striker after they made an approach to take him on trial on Tuesday.

Scott held talks with Hebburn manager Kevin Bolam after being made aware of the approach and a four-week trial working under the gaze of Magpies Under-23s coaches Chris Hogg and Peter Ramage will start on Monday.

Bolam told the Gazette: “We are really proud and so pleased for Cedwyn.

“We think the world of him, he’s so down to earth, we wish him all of the best and we really hope it goes well.

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“I’ve always thought there was a player in there, but in the last six to eight weeks, he has gone on to another level.

“He has worked so hard, he has adapted his game, and what the boy has done is fantastic.

“Yes, we have helped him along the way, but sometimes it is not about the coach, it’s about the player himself.

“It’s been down to him and his absolute commitment to improving.”

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