Abdulhafiz TeslimThe £23m Dutch youngster has caught the eye in pre-season and could start against Liverpool in the Premier League opener.
Newcastle United really like Sean Steur. Matthias Jaissle really likes him, as do the coaching staff and performance analysts. Players, both senior and young, have also been impressed in training.
Newcastle fans have quickly taken to the teenager after watching his displays against Gateshead, Bristol City and Valencia.
There is plenty to like. Still only 18, Steur has so far belied his tender years to become one of the standout performers in what has been a turbulent pre-season for Newcastle.
His crisp passing, both short and long, ability to take the ball in tight spaces and desire to always seek possession under pressure have caught the eye. Steur looks like a natural playmaker in the mould of some of the great Dutch midfielders to have emerged from the Ajax system.
Former Newcastle boss Eddie Howe was also a big admirer of the youngster. Steur’s first performance behind closed doors against Darlington had the coaching staff talking afterwards, while he was Newcastle’s best player against Gateshead in their first friendly in front of a crowd.
There was initially a need for some perspective. Impressing against National League opposition should be expected from one of the Netherlands’ brightest prospects, particularly given that Steur had already played 25 times in the Eredivisie and was ahead of some teammates in terms of fitness and preparation because Ajax had started pre-season earlier.
But Steur continued to impress.
Against Valencia at the Mestalla, the teenager produced another classy display after coming on as a second-half substitute. It was a significant step up in the quality of opposition, but Steur did not appear fazed.
His performance once again attracted plenty of praise as he moved confidently through the centre of the pitch, showing an assured touch and impressive composure.
After initially being viewed as a ‘work in progress’ following his £23m move to Tyneside, there is now growing talk that Steur could even start Newcastle’s Premier League opener against Liverpool.
Such has been his form during the friendlies that he currently appears to be ahead of some of his midfield rivals in the pecking order.
However, a word of warning had already arrived from Howe.
The former Newcastle manager was keen not to place too much pressure on Steur during his first few months at the club, recognising the physical demands and scrutiny the teenager will face in the Premier League.
Speaking shortly after Newcastle’s defeat against Bristol City, and just hours before news broke of his departure, Howe gave an insight into where he believed Steur was in his development.
“We feel he’s an integral part of this season otherwise we wouldn’t have signed him,” Howe said.
“Yes, he’s got stuff to develop, physically will be the biggest challenge for him. The Premier League as we know is a different beast to any other league so there will be a period of adapting for him.
“But he’s a real talent with the ball, he’s a really creative passer and takes great responsibility for someone so young to demand the ball in every situation. We really, really like him, we’ve seen some positive signs but we need to be calm because there’s a lot to develop still.”
Those comments were particularly interesting given that they came after the Bristol City match.
Steur had played the full 90 minutes at Ashton Gate but struggled at times against the pace and physicality of the Championship side as Newcastle suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat.
However, context is important. Steur was far from the only Newcastle player to struggle, with several senior stars also failing to perform at their best.
He was also deployed in the No.6 role, which may not ultimately be his preferred position. Furthermore, Howe’s dramatic departure just hours after the players returned home suggested that there were wider issues within the Newcastle camp.
Nevertheless, the Bristol City match provided Steur with an important learning experience.
That makes Wednesday’s friendly against Everton even more significant for the Dutch youngster.
Facing Premier League opposition will provide Steur with his best test yet. Valencia offered him plenty of opportunities to showcase his ability in possession, particularly after Newcastle’s opponents were reduced to 10 men, while Gateshead represented another less demanding challenge.
Against Everton, however, Steur will face a different type of test.
David Moyes’ side are expected to provide a hard-working, organised and physical challenge, giving Jaissle a much better indication of whether the teenager is ready to handle the demands of Premier League football.
If Steur comes through that audition successfully, he could genuinely be in contention for a place in Matthias Jaissle’s starting XI against Liverpool.
Aladji Bamba remains the more natural and aggressive option at No.6, while Lewis Miley has considerably more Premier League experience than Steur.
However, neither player has featured heavily this summer so far.
That could all change during the next two weeks, particularly if Newcastle add a more experienced midfielder to the squad.
For now, though, Steur appears to be the man in possession.
The teenager has impressed Newcastle’s new coaching staff, his teammates and supporters alike. The Everton friendly could now provide the clearest indication yet of whether his remarkable pre-season form is enough to earn him a starting role when Newcastle’s Premier League campaign begins.
For a player who only recently arrived on Tyneside, the speed at which Steur has forced himself into the conversation is certainly remarkable.
Abdulhafiz Teslim
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