Three Newcastle United prospects setting their sights on the Premier League

Newcastle United have already made moves to strengthen their academy coaching ranks in a bid to aid their young talents in their attempts to earn senior football at St James Park.

Just under a month has passed since the latest appointment was made as the Magpies named St Mirren assistant manager Diarmuid O’Carroll as their new Under-21s lead coach. That came just weeks after the United hierarchy confirmed several major moves within their academy setup - but their short and long-term aims have been made all too clear.

Speaking after his appointment was confirmed, O’Carroll told the club website: "I'm really excited to come in. It's a role I'm really looking forward to getting stuck into. The club speaks for itself in terms of the size, stature and fanbase. It's a really exciting time now as well with the ownership and everything that is planned going forward. The opportunity to come in is something I would've never expected, but when it come across my desk, it was a really exciting one and a quick process."

But perhaps the comments made by Magpies sporting director Paul Mitchell have put further emphasis on developing their own talents to aid them in their ongoing battle with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations.

He said: "Diarmuid is a very highly regarded coach and is a great fit for the profile we have been looking to recruit. He has amassed a wealth of experience during the formative years of his coaching career, working across youth, men's and women's club football and at international level. The Academy is a cornerstone of our sporting strategy, and Diarmuid's role is a crucial one in preparing players for the next significant step in their development journeys. The Academy has produced exceptional players over recent years, and we look forward to supporting Steve Harper, Diarmuid and our Academy team in continuing to build on that excellent record."

Over the last decade, the Magpies have handed senior debuts to a number of academy products with the likes of Sean Longstaff, Matty Longstaff and Elliot Anderson all featuring under the likes of Rafa Benitez, Steve Bruce and current manager Eddie Howe. However, there have been some that have made a more fleeting impact on the senior side with the likes of Michael Ndiweni, Kelland Watts and Amadou Diallo all limited to just a solitary appearance before moving on to pastures new this summer. With O’Carroll now settling into life on Tyneside and looking to help the Magpies develop players through their youth system and supplement Howe’s first-team options, there are three current Under-21s players that could be handed an opportunity at a senior level over the coming months.

Although he has already made a major impact in Howe’s squad, England Under-19 midfielder Lewis Miley found his breakthrough season at St James Park cruelly curtailed by a back injury. The youngster made the most of an opportunity handed to him by an injury crisis that decimated Howe’s midfield ranks last season and came into the side to impress against the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain before producing a boys own moment when he scored his first senior goal at the famous Gallowgate End against Fulham. After looking set to return to contention during the summer, Miley cruelly suffered a metatarsal injury that has meant he is still awaiting a first appearance of the current season - but is close to a return over the coming weeks and will go into battle for a place in midfield alongside Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Joe Willock and fellow academy product Longstaff. A patient approach will be taken when it comes to easing Miley back into contention and the youngster will have to show his patient side - but there is no doubt, his return will excite Magpies supporters after he produced a whole host of impressive displays and received widespread acclaim during an eye-catching introduction to life at a senior level last season.

Another player that will hope to force his way into Howe’s thinking over the coming weeks and months is Republic of Ireland Under-21 international Alex Murphy. Although technically not a product of the United academy after he joined the Magpies from Galway United just over two years ago, Murphy does have two senior appearances to his name after coming off the bench in latter stages of wins against Chelsea and Sheffield United last season. Able to feature at left-back and centre-back, Murphy has remained an unused substitute on four occasions so far this season and will hope to continue pushing for more game-time at the highest level. His performances during pre-season over the last two years have given a glimpse of his undoubted promise - although there could be some consideration given to a possible loan move away from Tyneside during the summer transfer window.

The most recent pre-season campaign did provide one Magpies youngster with an opportunity to impress Howe and it was an opportunity he grasped with both hands. As with Murphy, Trevan Sanusi is not a Newcastle academy product after moving to the North East from Birmingham City last summer - but there is no doubt there is a fair amount of excitement around the 17-year-old winger. As it stands, Sanusi is yet to make a competitive senior appearances and has not yet appeared in a first-team matchday squad. However, his pre-season displays against the likes of Stade Brestois and Girona, both of whom are competing in the Champions League this season, have provoked comparisons with former Magpies winger Allan Saint-Maximin and gave an indication of why there is some hope Sanusi can push towards Howe’s first-team squad before the end of the season.