Eddie Howe has talked up the prospect of giving more Academy graduates their chance in the first-team.
Sean Longstaff is the player that is currently flying the flag for the Academy with Elliot Anderson also breaking through recently while Matty Bondswell starred in pre-season for the seniors. Notably, Longstaff is the only survivor of the reserve team of 10 Geordies that hammered Sunderland 5-0 in 2018 underlining how tough it is to get to the first-team set-up and then stay there.
Howe said: "That's hugely important and I don't underestimate it. We want players to come through the Academy and into the first-team.
"That is a genuine wish from me. "To see Sean doing well with his history gives me a source of satisfaction. The work that had gone in for him through the various age groups here. "And it is something the players value, people like Sean, Paul Dummett, Mark Gillespie and Dan Burn being from the local area. It's great to see."
Longstaff has made 109 first-team appearances since making his bow in 2018 against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup. And after playing his part in a series of relegation tussles he is now involved in a team making the push for Europe. Howe admitted that the next step will be the hardest of all.
Howe added: "When you look at our current league position there's only a few places left to go. Obviously, they are the hardest ones to bridge the gap.
"We are well aware that when you get to the highest level. You are talking very tough to make it to the next step. But we're not really looking at that. We know the season is early and can change very quickly. We are just trying to do the best we can."
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