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Newcastle: Santiago Munoz could save Eddie Howe millions after training breakthrough
When you think about the future of the Newcastle United first-team, the first thing that comes to mind is the billions of pounds they have available to them to bolster the squad.
After the Saudis took over on Tyneside, the club spent the best part of £100m during the winter window to try and save themselves from relegation and it seems to be working.
At the time of writing the club are seven games unbeaten and new manager Eddie Howe has got the fans believing that they will still be a Premier League side next season despite registering just one win in the opening 20 games of the season.
But there is one young star whose name you probably know who could break that mould and burst his way into the first team over the coming years – Santiago Munoz.
Currently, on loan from Mexican outfit Santos, the ‘outstanding’ youngster as described by club president Dante Elizalde, recently made his first appearance for the Under-23s after signing on deadline day in the summer.
Magpies boss Howe recently called him up to the first team to train with the senior players too and spoke in a press conference about his wish to bring youngsters through at the club while he’s manager.
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“I want to see more of the Under-18s, Under-23s with us, giving people the opportunity to step up,” he said.
“I wouldn’t attach too many promises to that, because we’re in a relegation fight, and I need Premier League players in this fight, but it’s certainly something I want to try and push.”
Munoz has already been part of a winning side at international level. He scored five goals as Mexico won the 2019 U-17 CONCACAF Championship, while he also featured in the U-17 World Cup that year as they finished runners-up where he scored in the Round of 16 and scored his penalty in the semi-final shootout.
The name will immediately ring bells with the fans at St James’ Park simply because of the likeness to the movie ‘Goal’, but this is a youngster who can make a mark on Newcastle United in real life.
Despite their newfound billions, they have a diamond in the rough in their academy developing and ready to take on the world sooner or later.
In other Football Wonderkids news, Manchester United talent Zidane Iqbal is now in a position of unique pressure