Newport County manager Graham Coughlan admits he wants to re-sign Charlie McNeill on loan again next season.
The 19-year-old joined Newport on loan in January and has thus far scored two goals for the club.
More importantly, McNeill has played regularly and earned the trust of his manager and team-mates.
Charlie McNeil came off the bench to score for Newport County yesterday as the climb out of the relegation zone
2 in his last 3!👀
☘️😉
🎥: @mu_player_clips pic.twitter.com/a7ZLw3kfcs
— Irish Football Blog (@BlogIrish) April 8, 2023
Coughlan had no problem revealing his plans to keep McNeill in a recent interview, although that will be a decision for United to make in the summer.
“We had to bring in young players in January and could’t do what some clubs did but I didn’t think anybody has signed better when you include Harry Charley,” Coughlan told the South Wales Argus.
“The age and experience might count against them but they have been brilliant and I hope we can keep giving them the education and development they need to go back to their parent clubs and compete for the first team after massive growth.
“But I wouldn’t say no to having them here again next season if Middlesborough, Manchester United and Stoke were open to that. I will pursue them for sure.”
McNeill joined United as 17-year-old with high hopes after scoring 600 goals for rivals Man City at youth level. But McNeill’s age-group exploits mean nothing now when he’s trying to prove himself at senior level.
It’s not unusual for a talented forward to bag hatfuls of goals as a child and he knows himself there’s a lot of work to do in the coming months and years.
Let us know if you think McNeill should be sent back to League Two next season, or if United should hold out for a club in the Championship to continue the youngster’s development.
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