How Newcastle United can take Academy to next level after Dan Ashworth appointment

Newcastle United legend Lee Clark has backed incoming sporting director Dan Ashworth to improve the club's Academy scene.

Ashworth did a tremendous job resetting the English national team and also made improvements at West Brom and Brighton during stints there. The Magpies have suffered from a lack of players making their debut at first-team level in recent years with the flow not as frequent as it should be in the eyes of Clark.

Clark was one of a clutch of young players who graduated to the first-team in the 1990s alongside stars like Steve Watson, Steve Howey and Robbie Elliott who all played at the top level at St James' Park.

Clark told Chronicle Live: "Dan Ashworth will be brilliant, he's one of the very best. "It is a fantastic appointment and a really important one. I am looking forward to see what Dan can do. "It's not going to happen overnight because we do know that there's lots to put right.

"Although, there is a lot that has been put right already. "The new owners have made some huge strides but there's still lots more to do."

When asked how many players should be pushing on, Clark feels that the task is even more difficult these days due to the increase in quality at first-team level. Not least after signings such as Kieran Trippier and Bruno Guimaraes.

Clark said: "It's difficult to say because it usually happens in cycles. "I know lots of clubs now despite all the money that is in football, they still put a huge importance on the Academy.

"Look at Man City with Phil Foden and Cole Palmer. "That's what they spend a lot of money on their Academy. It's difficult to say how many but you want a regular flow of players coming through. "But the standard has now been set even higher for the Academy players,