Newcastle fans have been urged to give new signing Sean Steur a chance after instantly comparing him to Bruno Guimaraes.
The Toon Army were afforded their first look at their 18-year-old new signing in the 1-1 draw with Gateshead at the end of last month.
The teenager, who joined from Ajax in a deal worth up to £23million, has big shoes to fill on Tyneside after Newcastle’s midfield shake-up.
The Magpies first saw Sandro Tonali swap the North East for north London in a £100million deal to become Tottenham’s record signing.
Arsenal have since agreed a £75m deal to sign club captain Guimaraes, with talkSPORT revealing last month how the Brazilian had agreed personal terms with the Gunners.
In what is sure to be a coping mechanism for some supporters to move on from the 28-year-old, Steur’s Newcastle debut was described online as ‘having had shades of Bruno Guimaraes‘.
However, Newcastle fan Sam Dalling urged fans to avoid putting so much instant pressure on the Netherlands Under-19 international.
‘The kid’s 18 – give him a chance’
Dalling told talkSPORT’s Rushden and Baker: “The lad they signed from Ajax is meant to be very good, Sean Steur, with the exception he’s played, or the caveat that he’s had no first team football.
“He played half an hour against Gateshead in a friendly. And already you’ve got the journalists going, well, you know, there are kind of shades of Bruno about him. He could be the replacement.
“The kid’s 18 – give him a chance. He’s played against Gateshead!”
Steur was hailed as a ‘top young prospect’ by former Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe prior to his shock departure last week.
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“We see real potential in Sean and believe he has the characteristics to become a valuable player for us for years to come,” Howe added.
“Sean is an exciting addition to our squad.
“He’s had an excellent upbringing at Ajax, who have an outstanding track record of producing young players.”
Despite his limited senior experience, Steur started for Ajax in the De Klassieker win over Feyenoord at the age of just 17.
He also ranked first for chances created (15), total carries (231) and duel success (56.8 per cent) for midfielders who were aged 18 or younger in the Eredivisie last season, as per Opta.
Additionally, Steur placed second for passes (623), passing accuracy (89.7%), tackles (20), possession won (49), and duels won (46).
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Bruno Guimaraes more valuable to Newcastle than his market value
Meanwhile, journalist Dalling opened up about the frustration involved in the exits of midfield duo Tonali and Guimarães.
He added to talkSPORT: “It’s not a disaster in the fact that if players don’t want to be at your football club anymore, I feel you need to get rid of them.
“But I think the thing that will frustrate Newcastle fans most is Tonali going for more money than Bruno Guimarães seems to like really hurt for some reason.
“And the problem Newcastle have had with Guimarães is he is far more valuable to Newcastle United than his market value.
“So talks of him being a hundred million pound midfielder. And he did have a release clause for a hundred million quid two years ago, and no one wanted to come in.
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“The value he brings to Newcastle because he has carried the team on his shoulders at times, particularly last season. And he is this talismanic figure, and he was the captain.
“The fact that he has gone for less money than Tonali, who basically came, had his season where he wasn’t able to play, fine, had one brilliant season where you thought, okay, this is a wonderful footballer. And then last year, didn’t do anything and checked out.
“There was a point, Bruno Guimaraes got injured in a win away at Tottenham early in the year. You thought, this is when Tonali could really step up and be the leader of that midfield. And he didn’t do it.
“So as much as it hurts to lose, to be losing players to Tottenham, it feels like very good money for Sandro Tonali.
“It just feels like the wrong way around in terms of their value to Newcastle. But I can see with Guimaraes and his people talking about his age, that’s where the value is slightly different.”
