Despite having only one outfield player in the England ranks at any level from U16 to senior (Adam Campbell, U16's), the future is bright at the Newcastle United Academy.

There are few things better than seeing an Academy kid make it - especially if the kid is a Geordie.

Over the years you could build a world beating football team from players born on Tyneside - Shearer, the Charlton's, Gazza, Beardo, Milburn, Brian Robson - the list is immense. In recent years the Tyneside World-beater production line has slowed down, though plans are afoot to combat this.

Having said that many of the current crop are adopted Geordie's!

So who will break through into the first team this season? Will anyone? By making the break through I mean feature regularly not just play a couple of games like Fergie did last season.

Here are the likely lads:

One of Newcastle's new crop of youngsters © Getty Images

Name: Shane Ferguson
Age: 20
Birth place: Northern Ireland
Position: LW, LB
1st team appearances: 5 (4) (5 starts, 4 sub appearances)

There is not a lot that I can tell you about Shane - you already know it.
Personally I prefer to see him in an attacking role with the freedom to run at players rather than in at full-back, though he was exceptional at LB vs Chelsea against Anelka at Stamford Bridge in last seasons League Cup.

Shane recently signed a new 5 year deal which is a great indicator that he will feature, though the recent arrival of Marveaux may see his attacking appearances limited.

If Enrique leaves the club late in this window and we yet again find ourselves without enough time to find an adequate replacement, we may see Fergie more than we expect to.

Incidentally: Despite being born in Northern Ireland it looks likely that Shane will follow in the footsteps of Darron Gibson, Shane Duffy and others in pledging his future to the Republic of Ireland - players now have the freedom to play for either after a recent FIFA ruling.

Name: Tamas Kadar
Age: 21
Birth place: Hungary
Position: LB, CB
1st team appearances: 11 (7)

Tamas arrived on Tyneside in 2008 - the deal was put in place by Allardyce but by the time he arrived Kevin Keegan was at the helm.

A lot was expected of the young Hungarian but injuries have hampered him throughout - his most recent injury cut short what would have been a promising and vital loan spell at Lee Clark's Huddersfield Town.

On a positive note Tamas has just played 3 games for the Hungarian youth side in this summers Toulon Tournament and he sailed through without a hitch. He recently told the Evening Chronicle that he is fit and ready to compete for a first team place at left back - and good luck to him!

Incidentally: Tamas has never lost a league game playing for Newcastle.

Name: Haris Vuckic
Age: 18
Birth place: Slovenia
Position: CM, ST
1st team appearances: 2

Haris came over from Slovenia in 2009 with a very high profile for a development player - hype driven by the fact that some of Europe's top sides had worked with him.

Strength, height (he is 6'3") and power as well as an excellent touch, it looks like he has it all.

Unfortunately every time he has looked like breaking into first team consideration he has picked up a long term injury and he has spent much of his time here in the treatment room.

A few fans have been critical of Haris's performances in the 2 games he has started (high expectations given the hype) but I saw promise there. He is certainly no shrinking violet! And it is important to remember that he is still only 18 years old!

Incidentally: Haris was born in Slovenia to Bosnian parents. The Bosnian FA repeatedly attempted to persuade him to play for their national team, but he has pledged his future to Slovenia.

Name: James Tavernier
Age: 19
Birth place: Bradford
Position: RB, CB
1st team appearances: 2

I went to see James play for Gateshead a few times during his loan spell there last season. After a slow start he picked up and became one of their best players though it is difficult to judge when you consider that 'The Heed' finished 95 places below Newcastle in last season league pyramid.

Still, it is a mans game in the Blue Square Premier and it will have toughened the young fella up.

At present Danny Simpson and James Perch block Tav's route into the first team, but Perch will probably leave this summer meaning that James may get a game or two.

Incidentally: James was born in Bradford and spent 7 years in the Leeds United Academy before seeing the light and heading to Tyneside.

Name: Phil Airey
Age: 19
Birth place: Amble (Northumberland)
Position: ST
1st team appearances: (1)

Having been with the club since he was 10, there are high hopes for Phil. He has an excellent scoring record at both Academy (40 (6) 16 goals) and Reserve (9 (4) 8 goals) levels.

Phil made 1 substitute appearance for the seniors last season - unfortunately for him it came in the Stevenage debacle in the FA Cup. He will be hoping for more playing time this season and I hope he gets it. If not a loan spell could be beneficial.

He was recently linked with a loan switch up to Hibs, but that may change with Calderwood's possible departure.

Incidentally: Phil started out at full back, much like a former Newcastle number 9 who now plies his trade on Merseyside.

Name: Sammy Ameobi
Age: 19
Birth place: Newcastle
Position: RW, ST
1st team appearances: (1)

The latest product from the famed Fenham/ Nigerian footballing production line, Sam made his bow in the excellent 2 v 2 draw at Stamford Bridge late last season. Sammy has a different playing style to Shola - he is more sprightly and often plays wide.

A few at the club believe that Sam can go further in his career than his older brother, even if Shola has scored past Barca in the Nou Camp in the Champions League(!)

Sammy and Shola were the first brothers to appear on the pitch together for NUFC since Chilean's George and Ted Robledo in the 1950's!

Incidentally: Despite being born in England, Sammy has pledged his International future to Nigeria and trained with their U20's squad earlier this year. Unfortunately for Sam he missed out on a spot in the squad for the forthcoming U20 World Championships - a squad that contains a lot of home based players.

The list goes on:

Joan Simun Edmundsson - a 19 year old Faroe Island International forward

Ryan Donalson - St Cuthbert's School old boy (just like me) who played for England in last summers U19 European Championships

Michael Richardson - a 19 year old Geordie midfielder who not too long ago thought he was never going to be discovered and became an electrician but by the end of the season found himself on the bench in the 4 v 4 Arsenal draw

Remi Streete - Massive potential CB and son of Floyd Streete who made 159 appearances for Wolves. At 16 it will be a while before we see Remi in the first team.

And all of the above does not even mention our wealth of talented, young keepers!

The future is very bright and I really hope to see some of these lads in the first team some time soon.

Follow me on Twitter @MarcSDuffy and we can talk some footy!

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