---
title: "Roberts eyes up spot in McClaren’s first-team"
canonical: "https://readnewcastle.com/2015/11/04/roberts-eyes-spot-mcclarens-first-team/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Thomas Bore"
section: "Newcastle United News"
published: "2015-11-04T12:15:05Z"
modified: "2015-11-04T12:15:05Z"
---

# Roberts eyes up spot in McClaren’s first-team

On Monday morning, [news surfaced](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-rocked-rolando-aarons-injury-10376309) that Rolando Aarons had suffered yet another injury setback and was on crutches.

The 19-year-old burst onto the scene in pre-season 2014, as he scored and assisted in Newcastle’s Schalke Cup match against the hosts. Alan Pardew rewarded him for his hard work in pre-season with a handful of Premier League appearances.

Aarons sustained a hamstring injury, which was expected to leave him sidelined for six weeks, but he was rushed back in order to face Manchester City in the League Cup – where he netted the winner.

![Richard Heathcote/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readnewcastle.com/readnewcastle/sites/20/2015/11/458048386.jpg)

While the Magpies secured victory, it came at a cost as Rolando Aarons has been struggling with recurrences of his hamstring injury since.

In his absence, Newcastle lack a player with pace and confidence to drive at the opposition. Florian Thauvin was expected to be in a similar mould to Aarons and Hatem Ben Arfa, but he has endured a difficult start to life on Tyneside and has seemingly been cast aside by Steve McClaren.

Time for another young Geordie to step up? Cue Callum Roberts.

The 18-year-old combined with Ivan Toney twice on Monday night to help Newcastle under-21s secure victory over Aston Villa.

After the game, he (quoted by [Shields Gazette](https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/newcastle-united/latest-nufc-news/in-form-callum-roberts-pushing-for-first-team-breakthrough-at-newcastle-1-7550020?)) spoke of his delight to bag a brace and immediately expressed his desire to earn a place in Steve McClaren’s first-team: “Just to get more experience.

> I want to make a breakthrough here – that’s the aim this season.

“Maybe I will stay for this season and go out somewhere next year. I can learn from the first team here. If I keep playing well, hopefully I can make the breakthrough and get into the first-team squad.

“Hopefully, I can keep impressing him and catch his \[McClaren’s\] eye.”