Newcastle United

Alan Pardew: 'Newcastle United focusing on local talent'

By Joe Fish, Reporter | 10 November 2013

Newcastle UNited boss Alan Pardew reveals that the club will now be focusing on developing homegrown talent instead of continuing to dip into the French market.

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has revealed that the club are wary of signing too many more foreign players and will now be concentrating on nurturing local talent.

The Magpies have acted mostly in the French market in recent transfer windows, bringing in eight players from Ligue 1 since the start of the 2011-12 season, while their only summer acquisition, loan signing Loic Remy, added further to the French contingent at St James' Park.

Pardew has admitted that there is a danger that Newcastle could upset the balance of European imports and homegrown stars if they do not focus on developing the youngsters currently at the club, of whom he feels there are several on the fringes of making a first-team impact.

He said in The Times: "We've focused our academy on local players rather than searching the world for talent. We are now focusing very much in our area. I think it is an important message for our fans. That's the instruction from myself, Joe Kinnear and Mike Ashley. We want to maximise what's in our area.

"The ratio of foreign players at Newcastle is getting tight. It's important in our transfer policy that we bring in some English players. I'm very focused on the academy promoting talent from this area. I've said to all our scouts that I want to bring in players from here.

"We're scouring locally. That's something we need to do. We need more coaching hours with our players but, in terms of transfers to our first team, you've got to be good enough. All of our academy coaches should be proud. Everybody works so hard down there. It is brilliant for them to see somebody on the threshold of the first team."

Pardew identified Sammy Ameobi and Paul Dummett, who have both played in the Premier League for the Magpies this season, as well as Adam Armstrong and Adam Campbell, as prospects to watch out for.