Newcastle United striker reflects on 'hardest year of his life' and makes Magpies future admission

Newcastle United striker Ben Parkinson has already lived the dream with his beloved Magpies - but now he is hoping to move on from an injury nightmare that he described as ‘the hardest year of his life’.

Last week marked the two-year anniversary of the memorable moment the Durham-born frontman received an unexpected call from Eddie Howe to replace Lewis Miley for the final half-hour of a Premier League defeat against Bournemouth. That came just four days after Parkinson had been an unused substitute in a Champions League loss at Borussia Dortmund and two weeks before another experience of European football’s elite as the youngster remained on the bench during a draw at Paris Saint-Germain.

The momentum gained from regular involvement in first-team squads spilled over into the following season as Parkinson plundered his way to 11 goals by the time the festive period had arrived and that triggered interest from several EFL and National League clubs keen to take the striker on loan during the January transfer window. However, the Magpies academy star was left frustrated as a serious ankle injury triggered the start of an injury nightmare that has stunted the unquestionable progress made by a player viewed as one of the brightest prospects in the United youth ranks in recent years. A slow and painstaking return to fitness is now in its final stages and Parkinson has now started for the Magpies Under-21s in their last three games in all competitions.

Rather than wallowing in what has gone before, the striker is now fully focused on what lies ahead as he looks to rebuild his fitness and lay the foundations for what he hopes will be a successful career.

Speaking after Tuesday night’s Premier League International Cup draw with Real Sociedad, Parkinson told The Gazette: “It’s been the hardest year of my life and of my footballing career so far. I’ve had a lot of setbacks and when I look back at the season when I made my first-team debut, everything was going so positively and then at the start of the next season I scored 11 goals before Christmas and everything looked well.

“I was hopefully looking to go out on loan in the January and then I had an ankle injury that set me back three or four months - and then there was a couple of niggles towards the back end of the season. This year, doing scans in pre-season, I found something I’d never had before and that was a broken bone in my foot. That put me out for 12 weeks. It hasn’t been easy, being on such a high for the last couple of seasons and this year bringing everything back down to earth but now it’s time to build.”

Developed

Parkinson has become a popular figure within the Magpies academy after initially joining the club he supported as a boy as a seven-year old - and that has clearly played a part in the support he has received from key figures at all levels of the club as he worked his way back towards a return to competitive action.

“The staff have been unbelievable, the staff in the academy and at first-team level, they’ve all been incredible,” he explained. “The physios and the medical team, they’ve helped me get back to where I am now and I have developed a lot physically compared to where I was last year. I wouldn’t say I’m better for it because you don’t want to be injured but I’d say I’ve definitely used my time well.”

Future

Parkinson now has four more opportunities to add to his three appearances this season before the January transfer window opens for business - and he admitted he has one eye on a possible loan move away from St James Park. Adam Lawrence’s side have another Premier League International Cup clash with Paris Saint-Germain on Friday night before facing a National League Cup double-header with Scunthorpe United and FC Halifax Town before returning to the International Cup with a home game against Croatia Zagreb five days before Christmas.

The new year could present an opportunity for a first venture into regular senior football - but it could also provide Parkinson with an idea of what could lie ahead in his career after he admitted he could have to look away from Newcastle as his current Magpies contract enters its final six months.

He said: “I’m at the age now where I want to play first-team football and I’m definitely working towards January and seeing what happened then. There are a couple of things that we are looking to explore and I think whatever happens I want to play first-team football and I think I’m ready for that now. It’s about getting ready to take that next step. I am a boyhood Newcastle fan, the dream is always to play for the first-team here - but I think whilst that is the aim and I will push for that, there is a bit of realism here and it’s now about getting that experience elsewhere and if it means going somewhere for a long spell of time, then that’s how it has to be.”

Progress

Far from being daunted by the prospect of making a first move away from his boyhood club, Parkinson has stressed he ready to follow in the footsteps of several former Magpies as he cited the example of former academy stalwart Owen Bailey, who resurrected his career following his release with Gateshead and is now captain of League One club Doncaster Rovers.

The striker explained: “I think Owen had a tough time in the Under-23s with injuries and he went to Gateshead and did well. He’s got his move to Doncaster and progressed through the leagues. That’s a good example of how it can be done and it’s testament to his dedication and there are other examples of players that have done the same. It’s not easy, you’ve been in the academy bubble and you aren’t aware of what is elsewhere so you have to take that step - and I think I’m definitely ready for that step now.”

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