PIF must light up Darsley Park with exciting Newcastle swoop for 21-goal menace - opinion

Newcastle United are on course to avoid relegation from the Premier League after heavily investing in their squad in January.

PIF sanctioned a number of impressive winter deals as Bruno Guimaraes, Kieran Trippier, Matt Targett, Dan Burn and Chris Wood all came through the door, leading to the Magpies going on a nine-game unbeaten run to take them nine points clear of the bottom three.

Whilst they will be attempting to improve the first-team squad by bringing in established players to bolster Eddie Howe’s squad in the immediate future over the summer, they should also be looking at financing the academy to create a conveyor belt of prospects to develop over the next few years.

PIF must look to light up Darsley Park this summer with an influx of young talent to enhance the core of homegrown talent that they already have coming up through the ranks.

It was reported last month that the Magpies are among the clubs keeping tabs on talented teenager Josh Stones, and Football Insider recently claimed that Rangers have now joined the race for his services.

The Guiseley centre-forward can be Newcastle’s first foray into the youth market to develop their academy side with new additions. His form for the National League North outfit has been impressive and he would be an exciting player to add to the Tyneside club.

Stones has found the back of the net 21 times in 13 games for their youth team throughout the 2021/22 campaign and been rewarded with senior appearances in National League North. This suggests that the goalscoring menace has shown enough behind the scenes to warrant playing in the first-team at such a young age.

Therefore, he has the potential to push on further and play at a higher level, as his record at youth level is