Newcastle boss Alan Shearer insists he will have no hesitation in giving Nile Ranger his first-team head.
Toon starlet impresses Newcastle chief
Newcastle boss Alan Shearer insists he will have no hesitation in pitching 18-year-old striker Nile Ranger into his first team during the club's relegation battle.
The promising front-man has been in outstanding form for the club's academy and reserve teams all season and could now be used at first-team level.
Ranger was on the substitutes' bench for Newcastle's 1-1 draw at Stoke City on Saturday but it was fellow starlet Andy Carroll who got the nod to come on and earn the Magpies a much-needed point with a headed equaliser.
Previous incumbent Joe Kinnear had stated he would not risk exposing Ranger at such a crucial stage of the season but Shearer, who scored a hat-trick on his own professional debut as a 17-year-old, has no such concern.
Shear faith
"If you're good enough - it doesn't matter what age you are," Shearer told
The Chronicle.
"If he can add something to the team, I would have no fear about putting him on.
"I said to all the guys in the reserves, 'how you play and how you train will determine to me whether you have a part to play trying to help Newcastle United'.
"I've seen a response from all of them, including Nile Ranger and Andy Carroll.
Great response
"The response was great last Monday, as it has been in training.
"I said to Andy and Nile that they both have big roles to play here at this football club for the remaining games of the season.
"I told them to go out and show me what they had in the reserves.
"Both of them have done that and that's why they were in the squad for Stoke and on the bench.
"If they keep on producing results then you never know - they might get starts in games."
