Chelsea deliver 'major kick in teeth' to Spurs, Brighton and Newcastle United

Chelsea delivered a 'major kick in the teeth' to Newcastle United on Saturday as they named teenage midfielder Ollie Harrison on the bench for the fixture against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

NewcastleWorld reports that the 16-year-old's call-up to the first team by Mauricio Pochettino was a blow to Magpies supporters, who had hoped to one day see the star play in black-and-white. The teenager was regarded as one of the North East club's 'most exciting young prospects' before rejecting a contract with the club last summer in favour of Chelsea.

Harrison had also attracted interest from Brighton and Hove Albion, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers before opting for the move to Stamford Bridge. The youngster didn't feature at Chelsea took a point home from the Etihad Stadium but watched on from the dugout having impressed in the under-18 Premier League this term. 17-year-old Ishe Samuels-Smith was also named on the bench by Pochettino.

Harrison had turned out for Newcastle United's under-18 side at the age of just 15 last season and has been touted as a future Michael Carrick. The player's rise to the Chelsea first team comes as a particular blow for Newcastle United, who have also seen former youngster Bobby Clark make five first-team appearances for Liverpool this season.

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Speaking during his time as Newcastle sporting director, Dan Ashworth said: “I don’t know the situation around Bobby - I don’t know the detail around it – but, ultimately, our goal is to make sure we do attract and retain the talent and manage that talent better than anybody else,” Ashworth said. “I think I’d be lying if I said that (a promising young player leaving) will never happen again.

“Ultimately, what you can’t control are different reasons why players want to go to a club. It might be a pathway, it might be money. It might be a family situation, or a link with that particular city – or that particular country.

“I think the more you can make players feel valued, the more you can give them evidence of a pathway to a first team, and the more the club are striving towards the targets we’d like to achieve, that gives a story and a reason for a young player or senior player to stay and be part of that journey.”