Bondswell called ‘great youngster’ after impressive pre-season

Matthew Bondswell looks to have a bright future at Newcastle United after impressing in pre-season. The 20-year-old has stiff competition at left-back with Matt Targett, Paul Dummett and Matt Ritchie all challenging for a starting place, but Bondswell put in some fine performances to earn the plaudits of Kieran Trippier and Alex McLeish.

Bondswell joined the first-team squad for their pre-season tour of Portugal and played in their 3-2 defeat to Benfica on July 26. The 20-year-old was introduced in the second half and put in a fine performance that had Trippier calling him “outstanding” in a post-match interview.

McLeish was also impressed from what he saw of Bondswell and believes Newcastle have a talented player on their hands. He told Football Insider: “I’ve read the reports on him and I saw Trippier’s comments.

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“When you are getting praise like that from a guy with Trippier’s experience and knowledge, he knows what he is talking about. He knows the game inside out and to hear him say that about Bondswell, it looks like Newcastle have a great youngster on their books. The more the merrier.”

The 20-year-old featured in Newcastle’s 1-0 win over Atalanta on July 29 and in Newcastle’s 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao on July 30, so he’s had lots of minutes of late and could find himself in and around the first-team after shining over the summer.

Bondswell joined the Magpies from RB Leipzig in 2021 and has gone on to make 24 appearances for the U23s, grabbing two assists. He could get first-team football under his belt off the back of his pre-season showing.

In other news, Miguel Almiron tipped to impress after ‘cracking pre-season’