Accrington Stanley are considering a January loan move for Newcastle United defender Liam Gibson, according to the Lancashire Telegraph.
The 21-year-old has returned to action this season for the Magpies’ under-23 side this campaign after missing a considerable amount of time through illness, and is thought to be on the radar of the League One club from the north west.
Stanley already have Dan Barlaser and Luke Charman on loan from Tyneside, and it is also reported that the Toon Army are willing to allow both players to extend their stay with John Coleman’s side to the en of the season.
Gibson has yet to make his senior debut for Rafa Benitez’s side.
Good move for Newcastle?
Any deal that gets a young player like Gibson playing regular senior football can only be a good thing for his parent club. The full-back has missed a significant amount of time battling illness, and that has probably stunted his development.
At 21, he still has time on his side, but the sooner he can get some first team minutes under his belt, the better. The academy graduate is well-thought of on Tyneside, and the recent inclusion of Sean Longstaff in his manager’s plans will give him hope that he can follow in his footsteps.
There are few steeper learning curves than the slog of the Football League, and if Gibson can some through it he’ll be a much better player for the experience.
This is Futbol rating: 9/10
Likely to happen?
Newcastle have a good working relationship with Accrington Stanley, with both Dan Barlaser and Luke Charman enjoying loan spells at the Wham Stadium.
Barlaser in particular has had regular first team football, and as impressed for the most part. Stanley’s current left-back is due to return to his parent club in January, and Gibson would presumably walk into his position as a direct replacement.
There’s no reason the Toon Army would say not, unless Gibson was being eyed as a potential first team call-up.
This is Futbol rating: 8/10