Pundit issues intriguing Ashworth claim after Newcastle talks update
Paul Robinson has heaped praise on Brighton technical director Dan Ashworth amid reported interest from Newcastle United.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-England number one said Ashworth, 50, has “a very good footballing brain” as well as an eye for a player.
The Athletic‘s David Ornstein revealed (20 December) that Brighton have granted Ashworth permission to hold talks with Newcastle.
The Magpies are considering a number of candidates for a director of football position at St. James’ Park and Ashworth is said to rank highly among them.
Ashworth joined the Seagulls in 2019 following a six-year spell as the FA’s director of elite development.
When asked by Football Insider‘s Dylan Childs for his assessment of the Brighton director, Robinson said:
“Dan Ashworth has got a very good reputation in the game. He is very well respected for what he has done and what he has achieved in the game.
“I think it was his relationship with Paul Barber from the FA which took him down to Brighton. Paul Barber is a very intelligent football mind with a lot of contacts in the game.
“Ashworth has also got a very good footballing brain and he can see a player.
“Newcastle know they need very clever recruitment starting in January.
“The fact that they are looking to recruit a director of football now is a sensible move because a couple of weeks ago we were talking about somebody coming in after January. That seemed non-sensical.
“January is the most important window in the club’s history in a long time.”
In other news, a pundit has claimed Newcastle could sign 28-year-old who ‘Wilson would love’ after talks update.