Jay Turner-Cooke had barely unpacked his case during Newcastle United Under-21s' trip to San Pedro del Pinatar this summer when he was told he was on the move again.
The 18-year-old attacking midfielder is regarded as one of the leading lights of Newcastle's Academy after the Magpies signed the youngster from Sunderland's youth team and made an instant impression. That was back in January 2021 but since then Turner-Cooke has gone from strength to strength on Tyneside.
The player was already in the mind of Eddie Howe after a call-up to the first-team away to Manchester City last season no less. But when after a couple of injuries impacted Howe's squad in pre-season, Turner-Cooke was told to repack his kit and head for Austria with the first-team.
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Turner-Cooke sat on the bench in pre-season at illustrious venues such as Benfica's Stadium of Light and then in home games against Atalanta and Athletic Bilbao without getting on. But the experience has left him hungry and with the opportunity to impress Howe now in front of him.
Turner-Cooke told Chronicle Live: "Yeah they are exciting times, I am taking each experience as it comes really. Thankfully I got to go to Austria and Portugal and they were two great experiences.
"As a young player that is all you want really. Hopefully I will just keep trying to impress the manager when I go up and train with them and just look to keep doing what I am doing."
Howe has not hesitated in calling young players up to first-team training - something he actioned on day one in charge of United. Having scrapped a loan exit for Elliot Anderson this summer, Howe is determined to give youth a chance.
As such, the 18-year-old added: "Eddie Howe is a great manager and when I am with them, I am learning loads from him and the players. That's what I want to keep up. I am just trying to impress them."
There wasn't even an inkling of a loan in the summer with the thought process seemingly to give Turner-Cooke a full season in the Under-21s. Although, he was recommended to a clutch of League One and League Two clubs.
Newcastle need assurances that youngsters will definitely play if they go out on loan. For now Turner-Cooke can use the Under-21s and more notably the EFL Trophy to show what he can do.
When asked about going on loan, Turner-Cooke said: "I don't know. I just keep doing what I am doing, playing Under-21s and if get the chance with the first-team I will just keep on doing what I am doing again.
"I'll let the rest take care of itself and if it comes to something like that we will see. I am just trying to impress the manager here."
Howe will certainly have been impressed by Turner-Cooke's performance away to League Two side Doncaster last week in the EFL Trophy. Playing against a senior Donny side, Turner-Cooke was one of the best players on the field and did not look out of place against some seasoned pros.
United's second string held Doncaster 0-0 before losing on penalties but still picked up a point in Group E. The talented youngster said: "We come to these games for the experience really. They are kind of a free hit because there is not much pressure on us.
"So we try to relish the experience in them. Thankfully we went to Doncaster last week and got a decent result so we took the positives. Obviously, we take the positives and go to the next game."
Newcastle will face further tests against EFL opposition in Barnsley and Lincoln with the point giving them the chance to progress in the knockout stages. United have not journeyed that far in the competition since 2019.
The attacking midfielder said: "Somebody said it was the first point we'd taken in a few years in the EFL Trophy. So that's good and we are glad to do it. I thought we had chances to go on and win the game at Doncaster. "But we take the positives and will go again."
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