Newcastle United star admits club have a 'ridiculously good' player - but he's not playing
Newcastle United’s Dutch duo Sven Botman and Sean Steur have been speaking to Premier League Productions.
Newcastle United defender Sven Botman believes the ‘sky is the limit’ for 18-year-old summer signing Sean Steur.
Steur joined Newcastle from Ajax for an initial £20million over the summer and quickly impressed during pre-season. But after featuring in each of Newcastle’s opening seven matches of the season in all competitions, the teenager has been an unused substitute in the two matches since the international break.
The return of Nico Gonzalez to fitness has seen Steur drop out of the starting line-up despite head coach Matthias Jaissle labelling the young midfielder’s performance in his previous match against Hull City as ‘exceptional’.
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When asked why Steur hasn’t featured in successive matches since, Jaissle explained: “First of all, he's one of the youngest lads, so that's something we mentioned from the start, that it needs time.
“I mentioned it, that Nico [Gonzalez] was [starting], he's very good, he's a leader for a young squad in that position. So that's sometimes not only something with the player who's not playing, that’s also an aspect for the lad who is playing.”
Aside from his recent omissions, Steur has quickly taken to his new surroundings on Tyneside. In a recent interview in with the Dutch media, he spoke about how he feels ‘at home’ at Newcastle with his family coming over to see him.
And when asked about his family by Premier League Productions, Steur admitted that they are becoming ‘adopted Geordies’.
“My parents and brothers try and watch every home game. My oldest brother wears a Newcastle jersey four times a week! Yeah they’re becoming adopted Geordies - he wears the shirts and everything - but the family are always there for me and enjoy it!”
Steur’s Newcastle teammate and fellow Dutchman Botman, who also came through Ajax’s youth system, has hailed the midfielder’s quality at such a young age.
“For his age, Sean is ridiculously good,” Botman said. “When I was 18, I was playing second team for Ajax, so it’s amazing. He’s so young, and has so much improving to do, but the sky is the limit for him.”
Next up for Newcastle is a trip to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon as they look to bounce back from successive defeats. And Steur will be hoping to be given a fresh opportunity to impress.