Newcastle United forward Ayoze Pérez could soon be expecting a senior call-up by the Spanish FA, according to his former under-21 coach.
The 22-year-old scored his 10th goal for Newcastle United at the Vitality stadium on Saturday, as the Magpies edged past Bournemouth.
After starting the campaign as a bit-part player under new boss Steve McClaren, Pérez has forced his way back into the side and has three goals so far this season. The gifted Spaniard’s great form has seen him become the subject of reported interest from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Former Spain under-21 coach, Albert Celades, who coached the youngster when he received his first under-21 call-up in 2014, feels that Pérez is not far from taking the next step in his career.
Speaking with The Chronicle, Celades said:
He will definitely keep progressing because he is young and he has the desire to match his talent.
He is playing at a very high level now for Newcastle in the Premier League and this year it looks like he is more important and more influential in the play than he was last year.
We are delighted to see him developing in this way. We brought him into the under-21 fold and I coached him when he made his debut with us in Hungary.
He came with a lot of expectations around him.
Pérez has certainly been meeting those expectations during his time on Tyneside, and could soon be lining up alongside the likes of Andrés Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa.
For now, fans will hope that Ayoze’s immediate club future remains with Newcastle United.
