January has been a month of change within the Newcastle United Under-21s setup.

Newcastle United Under-21s interim head coach Robbie Stockdale has challenged the next crop of Magpies youngsters to ‘take their opportunity’ after the departure of several players in recent weeks.

Striker Ben Parkinson led the permanent departures after he joined Scottish Premiership club Falkirk on an 18-month deal and he was followed by Under-21s captain Cathal Heffernan, who has joined Harrogate Town and has already made his senior debut for the League Two strugglers. First-team hopefuls Joe White and Harrison Ashby have both agreed to loan stints with League One promotion contenders Bradford City and goalkeeper Max Thompson and defender Charlie McArthur has made loan moves to Scottish Championship clubs Ayr United and Airdrieonians respectively.

Those departures have opened up somewhat unexpected opportunities for several younger members of the Under-21s squad and the likes of Mason Miley, Matheos Ferreira and Sam Alabi will all hope to establish themselves in the second string over the coming weeks and months. Reflecting on the outgoing business, Stockdale expressed his pride over youngsters securing moves into the EFL and top flight of the Scottish game and urged those left behind to ‘step up to the plate’ during the remainder of the season and beyond.

He told The Gazette: “The one thing I would say, and I don’t know if development is the right phrase, but they’ve been exceptional in the work they have done. We were down to smaller numbers because the boys that could play Under-18s were in the Youth Cup squad and then we had the focus of this game (against Wolves) to build up to, which has now not happened.

“January is always a strange time for the Under-21s with players leaving and it’s up to the players that haven’t had as many minutes before January to step up to the plate and take the chance. That’s what it’s all about. We are really proud we’ve got some players out in the Football League and the Scottish Premiership and that’s part of the job. We wish them well and now it’s up to the next batch of players to take their opportunity.”

Adapt to change

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The biggest change within the Under-21 setup came when former head coach Adam Lawrence opted to stand down from his role earlier this month and has since returned to former club Manchester United. Despite the changes on and off the pitch, Stockdale believes being forced to adapt will only benefit the Magpies prospects as they venture through their careers.

“From what I’ve seen on the training pitch, they’ve coped admirably,” explained the former Middlesbrough defender before Friday night’s home game with Wolves was postponed. “If they are going to have futures in the game, which we all hope they will, they’ve got to be able to adapt to change. That’s part and parcel of football now and from my point of view, and the staff’s point of view, they have been nothing but very good on the training pitch and we were very much looking forward to this game. We would have been a little bit younger tonight than we usually would have been with the personnel - but that just bumps on to next week.”

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