McLeish raves over ‘outstanding’ Newcastle United youngster Matt Bondswell
Newcastle United have a promising young defender on their books in the form of Matt Bondswell.
That’s according to former Aston Villa and Scotland boss Alex McLeish, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the Magpies’ youth star.
Bondswell, 20, impressed as a second-half substitute in Newcastle’s 3-2 pre-season loss to Benfica on Tuesday (26 July).
Speaking to NUFCTV after the game, Kieran Trippier described the 20-year-old’s performance as “outstanding”
As quoted by the Chronicle (28 July), Eddie Howe described his outing against Benfica as a “big moment” in Bondswell’s career amid new claims that he could challenge Matt Targett this season.
McLeish insists Trippier can spot a quality defender when he sees one and hpes Bondswell is the next youngster to make a real impact at St James’ Park.
“I’ve read the reports on him and I saw Trippier’s comments,” McLeish told Football Insider’s Ben Wild
“When you are getting praise like that from a guy with Trippier’s experience and knowledge, he knows what he is talking about.
“He knows the game inside out and to hear him say that about Bondswell, it looks like Newcastle have a great youngster on their books.
“The more the merrier.”
Bondswell moved to Newcastle in the summer of 2021 after cancelling his contract with RB Leipzig.
He went to Germany in 2020 hoping to be the latest young Englishman to make their breakthrough on the continent.
In other news, a pundit tells Newcastle United to forget about signing Anthony Gordon and to instead sign a 25-year-old after journalist’s update.