Lots of Newcastle United fans have been applauding Tom Allan on social media, after the Under 23s talent made his senior debut in the FA Cup Third Round Replay win over Rochdale on Tuesday night.
Head coach Steve Bruce had awarded Allan a spot on the first-team’s bench in the original FA Cup tie at Spotland earlier in the month, after injuries ran riot on Tyneside to leave the boss with just ten fit outfield players.
Allan did not feature in the 1-1 draw or against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend, but it was third time lucky for the 20-year-old when Bruce began to rotate the line-up after strikes from Miguel Almiron and Matty Longstaff followed an Eoghan O’Connell own goal.
Bruce brought Allan on to replace Jamaal Lascelles in the 56th-minute, and it was not long before the youth star was involved in the action.
A cross aimed at Andy Carroll almost lead to the towering 6 ft 3 hitman scoring, but Allan’s delivery was overhit and the ball sailed out of play.
The pair soon connected in the box moments later, though Carroll’s lay off to Jonjo Shelvey again saw the ball curl wide of the post.
But Allan did not let those near misses hinder his debut performance, and the Newcastle-born winger would soon have an assist to show for his efforts when the 20-year-old’s pace took him away from Rochdale’s defence.
Allan broke free and delivered a perfectly weighted cross to Joelinton, whose first-time finish rolled through Jay Lynch’s legs and the Brazilian’s 20 game goal drought was finally over.
Do you want to see more of Allan this season?
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Allan is our Under 23s’ joint-leading goalscorer this season with five strikes in 13 appearances, and is contracted to the club on a professional deal penned in 2018.
He has racked up close to 100 appearances in the academy and has been awarded the captain’s armband this season, and is viewed as one of our rising stars.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans applauded Allan for his debut performance…
Allan looks like a canny prospect already done more than Atsu has in 3 years
— Josh Stewart (@JoshNUFC91) January 14, 2020
Great ball from Allan here https://t.co/xNzLHOaXxR
— Coming Home Newcastle (@ComingHomeNUFC) January 14, 2020
Would be interested to know who’s the fastest out of Almiron, Saint Maximin and Tom Allan. 3 absolute flying machines 💨 #NUFC
— George (@GeorgeWalker865) January 15, 2020
That Allan looked rapid for our fourth
— Rob Laing (@RobLaingo) January 15, 2020
My god the pace on that Allan kid https://t.co/yh0tjLMrxR
— max (@MaximumNufc_) January 14, 2020
I thought Tom Allan was excellent tonight. A real prospect. #nufc
— Maurice Hall OBE (@moothall49) January 14, 2020
Also buzzing for young Tom Allan getting the assist, class seeing so many geordies on the pitch man ✊🏼
— Dobby Solano (@DobbySolanoNUFC) January 14, 2020
Tom Allan doing more in 30 minutes than Atsu has done in his whole Newcastle career 🤔🤷🏻♂️ #NUFC
— David Ryder (@arydercockhorse) January 14, 2020
unreal assist lad
— jake (@yeetdabswag) January 14, 2020
May have been Rochdale but Christ he done well. I’d like to see more of him
— Adam Campbell (@AdamCam70223591) January 14, 2020
In other Newcastle United news, the club are keen to sign a €10m forward currently being courted by a European giant.