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Daily Mirror
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Defoe names 'unbelievable' Tottenham wonderkid as five gems tipped for stardom
Jermain Defoe claims former club Tottenham need to exploit some of the irresistible talent currently embedded within their academy ranks Jermain Defoe has urged former club Tottenham to unleash five exciting youth talents. The 42-year-old, who left his Spurs academy coaching role last summer, believes there are a number of prospects that have what it takes to break into Ange Postecoglou's side next season. He said: "I was so lucky when I was coming through at West Ham in the academy, Harry [Redknapp] was bringing players through and developing them. But Spurs have got Mikey Moore, Damola Ajayi who recently played in the Europa League and scored [vs Elfsborg], and there's another kid called Tyrese Hall. "He has so much potential, he's unbelievable and is one of the best I've seen. In my two years at Tottenham, all of the teams that we played against around the country, he was definitely one of the best, in fact, he's a Premier League footballer. "You've got Callum Olusesi who has been in and around the first-team, on the bench, and Will Lankshear so there are so many players in the academy that next season, they should be looking to break through. Hopefully the club will give them an opportunity." Former England striker Defoe was speaking to Sunday Mirror off the back of the recent Emirates 5s, a 5-a-side tournament created to celebrate the airline's sponsorship of the Emirates FA Cup. Held at St. George's Park, four legends – Defoe, Shola Ameobi, Ben Foster, and Shaun Wright-Phillips each captained a team starring influencers, non-league players and individuals making a positive change in their local communities as they represented Emirates flight hubs in London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Newcastle and battled it out on the pitch to be crowned champions. He was delighted to return to the pitch after calling time on his playing career back in 2022, explaining: "It's such a good concept and was nice to get my boots on again but it's never friendly once the whistle goes! "It was nice to get the phone call, I've not seen Shola for years and of course, I'm friends with Shaun and Ben Foster is always in and around London so it was nice to see the boys again. "I was surprised by the pitch side, when the pitch is smaller sometimes you think it's less running but it was man-for-man. I thought we were unlucky, it was just a semi-final and a final but when we got knocked out, I saw Newcastle play and I knew they'd win it. "I respect anyone that goes out there and plays football because it's pressure, I remember when I first started coming through, I played for my district and Sunday League team but it was just nice to be amongst it and amongst the players that play Non-League but we still have the same love for the game. It means a lot to me."
Scottish Sun
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
I was Alan Shearer's strike partner but Alexander Isak can break his Newcastle scoring record – no defender can stop him
ALEXANDER ISAK has been backed to break Alan Shearer's goal record - by Super Al's former Newcastle strike partner. The Swedish superstar, 25, has already secured the Toon Army a first major piece of silverware in 70 years. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Alexander Isak has already cemented his status in Newcastle folklore Credit: Getty 5 Shola Ameobi recently led Team Newcastle at the Emirates 5s Credit: Matt McNulty - The FA And he can further cement his name in Geordie folklore by firing them to Champions League qualification for the second time in three years. Isak has scored 62 goals in 107 appearances since his £63m arrival from Real Sociedad in 2022 - with 27 of those coming this season. The £150m-rated hotshot still has some way to go to surpass Shearer's club record haul of 206 but Shola Ameobi, who spent six years as a team-mate of the legend, believes if anyone can it's their current talisman. Ameobi, who sits 17th in Newcastle's all-time scoring standings with 79, said: 'I played with Alan and know the level that he was able to attain. Alex is still young in his career but you look at his age and what he's already been able to do - the sky is the limit. 'If he's going to continue to break records and really sort of establish himself as one of the best ever at Newcastle then you need that longevity. 'But look at the goals he scored, the level of play that he has and the scary thing is there's still a lot of development to be had. He's playing really well but there's so many things that he can continue to develop to make himself really one of the best in the Premier League. 'He's probably up there along with Mo Salah. I know he has a lot of hunger, and Alex wants to be the very best he can. "He's humble, he's got humility, he wants to learn and everything that he's done for this club since he's arrived has been world class and hopefully he can continue to do that and we'll certainly need him at his very best this weekend. 'When he's at his best, there's no defender that can stop him from scoring goals. He's just that good. And if we can continue to get that consistency out of him week in, week out, then the sky is the limit and he can have a chance of breaking that record.' BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS On the subject of greats, Ameobi says Sir Bobby Robson was the best manager he played under but insists Eddie Howe is 'cut from the same cloth'. Ameobi, who now works as loans manager at Newcastle, said: 'There's a great case to be made that he is, certainly in my lifetime, one of the greatest Newcastle managers. "And if he keeps on this trajectory in terms of maximising the development of the squad and adding to that he'll continue to build. Newcastle legend, 41, spotted BUSKING in city centre and gushes over 'dream come true' to play in 'my home' 'We want to be playing Champions League football. That's the expectation now of not just the fans but ownership and I feel like the staff and the players themselves feel they've got a good enough squad to be able to challenge right at the top of our league and in Europe. 'Bringing a trophy to the club - Eddie, Jason Tindall, his staff and players have delivered. I hope that gives us that little impetus to know that we can compete and go again. 'There's only a handful of clubs that could probably tempt Eddie away from Newcastle because he is settled with his family and knows what project we have here and the size of what we could achieve.' Howe can further strengthen his legacy on Tyneside with a top five finish and knows that Newcastle's Champions League qualification remains in their own hands as they head into their final three games, starting with today's bumper showdown at St James'. 5 Alan Shearer is Newcastle's record goalscorer with a tally of 206 Credit: PA 5 Swedish star Alexander Isak has scored 62 in 107 appearances Credit: Getty Speaking ahead of the game - where the club will fans free beer - Ameobi added: 'I don't think it's the biggest game of the season - it's another step in what has already been a long season. The players have done unbelievable to get to this point. 'Chelsea is one that could be season-defining but we know that every game for all those teams in the mix are really important. But this is one, certainly being at home in front of our fans, should give the boys a lot of confidence. 'Going down to Brighton and getting a point was massive and that should give us confidence to go into this game. We don't feel like if we win that's it all said and done. 'We still still have to go and finish the rest of the games and if we're going to get in the Champions League we're going to have to win two of our games. Certainly a win this weekend will make the job a lot easier.' Ameobi last week showed he had lost none of his own magic as he took part in The Emirates 5s, a 5-a-side tournament created to celebrate the airline's sponsorship of the Emirates FA Cup. 5 Team Newcastle celebrate winning the Emirates 5s at St Georges Park Held at St. George's Park, four legends – Shola Ameobi, Ben Foster, Shaun Wright-Phillips, and Jermain Defoe each captained a team starring influencers, non-league players and individuals making a positive change in their local communities as they represented Emirates flight hubs in London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Newcastle and battled it out on the pitch to be crowned champions. Ameobi not only scored the goal of the tournament but also led his side to a tournament win. His team also featured 21-year-old Michael Ndiweni, who left St James' Park in 2024 and is now at Newcastle Blue Star and has also played in the Baller League. Ameobi said: 'I worked with Michael at Newcastle and coached him U11/U12s back in the day. He made the bench in the Champions League a couple of years ago but has now had to drop down, which you see a lot. But it's great to see the likes of Michael keeping in the game and wanting to develop himself like Connor Walker also, who was fantastic. 'That was key for me, seeing the passion of these young boys that haven't quite made it at league level yet but are still looking to develop themselves. Certainly Michael has done that.'
The Irish Sun
10-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
I was Alan Shearer's strike partner but Alexander Isak can break his Newcastle scoring record – no defender can stop him
ALEXANDER ISAK has been backed to break Alan Shearer's goal record - by Super Al's former Newcastle strike partner. The Swedish superstar, 25, has already secured the Toon Army a first major piece of silverware in 70 years. 5 Alexander Isak has already cemented his status in Newcastle folklore Credit: Getty 5 Shola Ameobi recently led Team Newcastle at the Emirates 5s Credit: Matt McNulty - The FA And he can further cement his name in Geordie folklore by firing them to Champions League qualification for the second time in three years. The £150m-rated hotshot still has some way to go to surpass Shearer's club record haul of 206 but Ameobi, who sits 17th in READ MORE ON FOOTBALL 'If he's going to continue to break records and really sort of establish himself as one of the best ever at Newcastle then you need that longevity. 'But look at the goals he scored, the level of play that he has and the scary thing is there's still a lot of development to be had. He's playing really well but there's so many things that he can continue to develop to make himself really one of the best in the Premier League. 'He's probably up there along with Mo Salah. I know he has a lot of hunger, and Alex wants to be the very best he can. "He's humble, he's got humility, he wants to learn and everything that he's done for this club since he's arrived has been world class and hopefully he can continue to do that and we'll certainly need him at his very best this weekend. Most read in Football 'When he's at his best, there's no defender that can stop him from scoring goals. He's just that good. And if we can continue to get that consistency out of him week in, week out, then the sky is the limit and he can have a chance of breaking that record.' BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS On the subject of greats, Ameobi says Sir Bobby Robson was the best manager he played under but insists Eddie Howe is 'cut from the same cloth'. Ameobi, who now works as loans manager at Newcastle, said: 'There's a great case to be made that he is, certainly in my lifetime, one of the greatest Newcastle managers. "And if he keeps on this trajectory in terms of maximising the development of the squad and adding to that he'll continue to build. Newcastle legend, 41, spotted BUSKING in city centre and gushes over 'dream come true' to play in 'my home' 'We want to be playing Champions League football. That's the expectation now of not just the fans but ownership and I feel like the staff and the players themselves feel they've got a good enough squad to be able to challenge right at the top of our league and in Europe. 'Bringing a trophy to the club - Eddie, Jason Tindall, his staff and players have delivered. I hope that gives us that little impetus to know that we can compete and go again. 'There's only a handful of clubs that could probably tempt Eddie away from Newcastle because he is settled with his family and knows what project we have here and the size of what we could achieve.' Howe can further strengthen his legacy on Tyneside with a top five finish and knows that Newcastle's Champions League qualification remains in their own hands as they head into their final three games, starting with today's bumper showdown at St James'. 5 Alan Shearer is Newcastle's record goalscorer with a tally of 206 Credit: PA 5 Swedish star Alexander Isak has scored 62 in 107 appearances Credit: Getty Speaking ahead of the game - 'Chelsea is one that could be season-defining but we know that every game for all those teams in the mix are really important. But this is one, certainly being at home in front of our fans, should give the boys a lot of confidence. 'Going down to Brighton and getting a point was massive and that should give us confidence to go into this game. We don't feel like if we win that's it all said and done. 'We still still have to go and finish the rest of the games and if we're going to get in the Champions League we're going to have to win two of our games. Certainly a win this weekend will make the job a lot easier.' Ameobi last week showed he had lost none of his own magic as he took part in The Emirates 5s, a 5-a-side tournament created to celebrate the airline's sponsorship of the Emirates FA Cup. 5 Team Newcastle celebrate winning the Emirates 5s at St Georges Park Held at St. George's Park, four legends – Shola Ameobi, Ben Foster, Shaun Wright-Phillips, and Jermain Defoe each captained a team starring influencers, non-league players and individuals making a positive change in their local communities as they represented Emirates flight hubs in London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Newcastle and battled it out on the pitch to be crowned champions. Ameobi not only scored the goal of the tournament but also led his side to a tournament win. His team also featured 21-year-old Michael Ndiweni, who left St James' Park in 2024 and is now at Newcastle Blue Star and has also played in the Baller League. Ameobi said: 'I worked with Michael at Newcastle and coached him U11/U12s back in the day. He made the bench in the Champions League a couple of years ago but has now had to drop down, which you see a lot. But it's great to see the likes of Michael keeping in the game and wanting to develop himself like Connor Walker also, who was fantastic. 'That was key for me, seeing the passion of these young boys that haven't quite made it at league level yet but are still looking to develop themselves. Certainly Michael has done that.'
