Dujuan 'Whisper' Richards has already received one memorable phone call this week, after earning his first senior call-up for Jamaica. The talented striker has trained with the national team before, but could make his senior bow in two upcoming friendlies against Trinidad and Tobago.
However, the 17-year-old will still be waiting by his phone for another important call after undergoing a two-week trial at Newcastle United last month. The Phoenix All Stars Academy prospect was pictured in attendance at St James' Park for the home draw with West Ham on February 4 ahead of spending a fortnight attempting to impress academy coaches.
Having previously been in the dark over Richards' trial, Newcastle under-21s boss Ben Dawson has confirmed the trialist delivered as expected from the scout reports, and that the decision now lies with the club's hierarchy. The exciting striker is currently focused upon making his Jamaica debut, but he is confident he has done enough to earn a permanent move to Tyneside.
READ MORE: The inside story of Newcastle trialist who snubbed lucrative transfer for shot at Magpies dream
He told ChronicleLive: "All I can say is I think did well and I was able to be seen by all the coaches. I am grateful for the opportunity and I believe it could be a good fit.
"I'm very pleased with how the trial went, and I believe my performance was impressive enough. I learned about their methods, their vision for the club and where they want to be.
"I know they are a very ambitious club and want to be playing in the Champions League. I am expecting to hear positively from the club."
News of Newcastle's interest in Richards was first reported by the Jamaica Observer in January. The future Magpies trialist had made the headlines in his homeland after scoring 31 goals and registering 19 assists last season for Phoenix All Stars Academy.
Richards is no stranger to England, having spent time at Brooke House College in Leicestershire as well as featuring in academy fixtures against the likes of Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Sheffield United. This grounding and training programme with the Kingston-based academy stood the striker in good stead when Newcastle came calling.
Richards said: "I was elated because Newcastle are a huge club with great pedigree. I was proud that I had developed to become good enough to be considered by such a club at that level, and grateful to my coach and family for guiding my progress to attain this opportunity.
"I know Newcastle has been the club of great players in the past like Alan Shearer and Kevin Keegan, and I also know they have been building their way right back to the top of the Premier League. The Premier League is of the highest standard, and many players dream of playing there.
"I enjoyed the fans and the super support the team gets from them. I would love to be one of those blessed players to represent a Premier League club, and even more so one with such a high pedigree."
Pictures of Richards at St James' Park and social media clips of the trialist in action at the club's training ground heightened intrigue within the Toon Army around the prospective new signing. Phoenix All Stars Academy president Craig Butler likened the striker to both Erling Haaland and Romelu Lukaku, and the player himself has not shied away from such lofty comparisons.
The Port Royal native said: "It felt good to know people were discussing my name, and there was great apprehension regarding what I would bring. I know the fans don't know me so well yet, but if I could describe myself as a player it would have to start with who I am as a person.
"I don't speak a lot, I listen much much more. That's why they call me Whisper. I am 6ft 4ins, but I have strength and balance in an unusual way and can use both feet to dribble, shot and pass. I was a lanky slow kid, but today I'm one of the fastest players with a great change of pace.
"My speed, strength, movement and skills help me to be a finisher, provider and creator. I like the player I have become but I want to be remembered like a Zlatan, Harry Kane, or Alan Shearer.
"I want to keep improving my overall game as I'm strong in all areas, but if I want to be able to be remembered as one of the best I have to keep working harder every single day."
Newcastle are not the only club to express an interest in Richards given his recent goalscoring exploits. Butler recently confirmed the striker had turned down a lucrative offer from a club in the Middle East to pursue his Premier League ambition in the North East of England.
When asked about the approach, Richards answered: "Wow, that was a really difficult situation. I don't want to elaborate much, but Jamaica is my home and my grandmother is English so I have a connection there too.
"Honestly I would never want to sell out my country. It was a huge sum of money, but it would be against my principles as a son of Jamaica and my career goals as a footballer.
"Money is important to live but it is not the source of life. Love is and I'm grateful my coach stood up and fought for me to be in England .
"What interested me most about the opportunity of Newcastle was that it would give me a platform to compete against the best in the world. It would be a place where it would be easier to adapt culturally, and what better place for me to show what I can do and to test myself against the best competition?"
The Tyneside trial was not Richards' first experience of testing himself overseas against international opponents. However, the academy's preparations did not prevent the experience of swapping the 'paradise' of Jamaica for Newcastle upon Tyne in February from being something of a culture shock.
Richards explained: "The city of Newcastle presents a totally different world to where I am from. I'm grateful my coach had the vision to send me a week early so I could spend time and to go and watch the game at St James' Park.
"Of course it is not Jamaica in terms of weather and water. Jamaica is paradise, but Newcastle is also very beautiful in its own way. It is a place where people can focus hard on their football careers, and the club administrators are very welcoming."
The prospect of having just two weeks to impress in a new environment more than 4,000 miles from home would be daunting for most, let alone a teenager. No matter the outcome though, Richards is pleased with his showing and is confident he will deliver on his potential regardless of the decision.
He said: "Just before the first day of the trial, a certain calm came over me. I was well prepared, I knew from my training I was ready. I wore my business suit because I was going to work.
"I was going to be an ambassador for my academy and for my country. I knew so many other players in my academy have the quality to be here, and I was chosen.
"I was no stranger to what a professional club looks like, so I wasn't really nervous I had a mission to accomplish. I don't know where this journey will end but I'm doing my part to get there."
* Newcastle United U21s return to Premier League 2 action on March 20 with a trip to face Nottingham Forest. You can follow all of the build-up to the City Ground encounter here.
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