Newcastle Linked with League One Starlet

Newcastle are among a host of clubs credited with an interest in Walsall left-back, Rico Henry. 

The 19 year-old started his career at the Bescot Stadium aged 11 and has worked his way through the club’s youth system before making his first-team debut in December 2014. Since then he has made 55 appearances for the Saddlers, scoring three goals.

Relatively small in stature (5ft 9in), he has been likened to the pacey former Arsenal and England great, Kenny Samsom.

Though I can’t admit to have seen the lad in action, according to various articles I have read on him, he is a great passer of the ball – he loves to spray passes around the pitch from the left depths of the field. In a higher league, this ability to play out from the back would be emphasised and his lovely disguised passes would be better appreciated.

While it is believed that Paul Dummett will be first choice left-back next season, there would be no harm in bringing in a youngster as back-up. We do of course already have Massadio Haidara on our books but, having picked up yet another niggle during the training camp in Ireland, it is difficult to say whether Newcastle see a long-term future in such an injury-prone player.

The likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City and (yes, you guessed it) Sunderland have been linked with the player in recent months, and with just two years left on his contract, it is believed that Walsall could be willing to let him leave if the price is right.

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