More Toon starlets to join Saints

Newcastle are planning to send more of their promising youngsters to St Mirren, says the agent who helped strike their "affiliation" agreement.

Last Updated: 20/03/13 at 17:02 Post Comment

Paul Dummett (right): On loan at St Mirren from Newcastle

Paul Dummett (right): On loan at St Mirren from Newcastle

Manager Specials

So who will replace David Moyes as manager of Everton after his appointment as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor at Manchester United? Wigan's Robert Martinez heads the betting. Check out the latest odds

The pact saw 21-year-old left-back Paul Dummett arrive in Paisley on loan last August before midfielder Connor Newton, also 21, followed on another temporary switch in January.

Both players were involved in the club's 3-2 win over Hearts in the Scottish Communities League Cup final on Sunday as they ended a 26-year wait for silverware with their Hampden success.

Now Spencer Downey - who works closely with Newcastle - claims the Premier League giants will send more of their talented reserves to Scotland to speed up their development.

He said: "We're already looking at the next batch to send north.

"It will be hard to manage the expectations as Paul and Conor have done so well that people will think everyone we send up will be just as good but we are working on picking out the best young players for St Mirren to look at.

"What St Mirren have achieved this week has been unbelievable and it's made the people at Newcastle sit up and take notice."

Both players played key roles in Saints' League Cup victory.

Dummett set up Steven Thompson for the team's second goal, while Newton scored the crucial third to hand Danny Lennon his first trophy as St Mirren boss.

But the duo are out of contract with Newcastle at the end of the season and Downey believes they would have no problem signing on with the SPL outfit permanently.

"Conor has really taken the club to his heart and Paul is the same," he said. "In fact, Dummy told me the other day his dad is even talking about getting a St Mirren tattoo.

"The way the club have treated the two lads has been unbelievable. From the chairman Stewart Gilmour, to the chief executive Brian Caldwell and then both Danny Lennon and (first-team coach) Tommy Craig on the football side, they have all been great.

"If prizes were given out for being nice in football, St Mirren would be in the Champions League.

"Dummy has come on leaps and bounds while Conor has stepped up too. I think people forget that the semi-final against Celtic was one of his first games ever at first-team level.

"But he looked like a seasoned pro that day, even though he was up against star players like Victor Wanyama and Joe Ledley.

"He set up the first goal in that game and now he's scored the winner in a cup final. It's Roy of the Rovers stuff.

"So Newcastle can see the value in sending their lads north. And it can work both ways. Saints have young guys like Thomas Reilly and John McGinn who, if they continue to develop, could benefit from the partnership."

But Saints have been warned that Dummett and Newton's Hampden heroics have alerted clubs down south to their talents.

He said: "St Mirren are very keen to keep them around but we have had enquiries from clubs down south. There's one club chasing promotion from the Championship and another at the bottom end of the Premier League.

"They have been impressed by what the lads have been doing and where they have been doing it."

TEAMtalk Facebook Fan Page

The TEAMtalk fan page is a great place to meet like minded people, have football related discussions and make new friends.

Related News

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

Most Commented

Readers' Comments

L

FC league positions and points from last 4 seasons - 7 (61), 8 (52), 6 (58), 7 (63). Werner calls it progress, I call it mid table stability.

kolev_lfc
Reds progress delights Werner

I

s there a PR agency covering Begovich, Odemwingie, Steven Fletcher and Grant Holt or something? Why would you offer a quote like that without having been announced by either club. #headsshoulderskneesandtoesgone

Havelange
Begovic hints at Liverpool move

S

adly this is inevitable. No club outside the top 4/5 can hang on to anyone who shows that kind of talent anymore. Might be best for them to get as much as they can now while his stock is high and start again. On the plus side lads, Grant Holt is still available.

Fuzzy_Dunlop
Agent cools Benteke exit talk

Footer 365

Former Middlesbrough defender Colin Cooper named Hartlepool's new manager

Hartlepool have appointed Colin Cooper as their new manager after the sacking of John Hughes earlier this month.

Outgoing Manchester United chief executive David Gill elected to UEFA committee

Manchester United's outgoing chief executive David Gill has been elected to UEFA's executive committee.

Premier League: Marco Materazzi would love Jose Mourinho link at Chelsea

Marco Materazzi would love to join Jose Mourinho at Chelsea if the coach returns this summer.

Mail Box

Saving The Europa League And More...

Nice one UEFA, but not far enough. We have some ideas to make the Europa League better as well as more views on Wayne Rooney, Vermaelen in midfield and...

More Scared Of Losing AVB Than Bale...

We thought we would have to resort to another mailbox about maths but we've had some grand opinions about Man United, Newcastle, Tottenham and more. Oh and maths...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved