A right-back who enjoys creating free kicks? Sounds familiar…
Newcastle United have been on the lookout for a young back-up for Kieran Trippier since signing the 32-year-old from Atletico Madrid last January.
Emile Croft is sidelined for a long time with a knee injury and head coach Eddie Howe does not seem to rate Javier Manquillo, who has been a regular under Steve Bruce.
Matty Targett’s injury also complicates matters, with Howe eyeing the left-back as a suitable emergency right-back.
If possible, sporting director Dan Ashworth wanted to find a young, home-grown solution – and Newcastle decided on West Ham United academy product Harrison Ashby.
On Sunday, the two clubs agreed a deal that could rise to £3 million ($3.7m) for Ashby, which saw a bid for Ashby fail on the summer deadline.
Newcastle then considered Real Valladolid’s Ivan Fresneda, interest from Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund, and Leeds United’s Cody Drameh, but – like other recent signings – were happy to play the long game in returning to Ashby.
But with the 21-year-old unable to make just seven first-team appearances for West Ham and not featuring much this season, why do Newcastle’s hierarchy feel Ashby can make an immediate first-team contribution?
The answer is his bravery, technical ability and physical fitness.
The Papa John’s Cup – where under-21 teams meet teams from the top leagues – can be an intimidating stage for young prospects, as it can be quite physical. Vastly inexperienced, the academy players will have to rely on their technical skills – when Ashby shines against Gillingham in October 2021.
Take this pass, a ball that very few established Premier League midfielders can play. Ashby picks up the ball deep and, free of pressure, watches winger Thierry Nevers run.
He started in midfield and played everywhere for West Ham, said Ashby’s father Barry, himself a former professional player. The athletics In October 2020, he said: “The only position he hasn’t played for West Ham is goalkeeper.
“Then he moved to the right wing for a while, played left-back, played center half for the under-16s and under-18s but always liked the right-back position.”
That midfield background was on full display here as Ashby’s 60-yard pass split the gap between Gillingham’s centre-back and left-back as he first beat the tag.
Nevers won the contest and Aaron Chapman scored. Ashby, in particular, suffered.
Trippier is a major creative outlet for Newcastle. He has created 21 chances in open play, leading the team and second only to Kevin De Bruyne among Premier League players.
In the year In the 2021-22 season, when Kraft was last fully fit and Manquillo played regularly, Trippier more than doubled the shot-creating actions of his replacements. He averaged 2.34 per 90 minutes, while Craft made 1.05 and Manquillo 0.93.
He is a player capable of replicating the stats that Newcastle have been looking for from a full-back. Ashby showed his potential last season in Premier League 2 with 6 assists and 2 goals in 19 games.
Ashby likes to keep running. His brilliant pass against Gillingham soon chipped the ball away for midfielder Daniel Chester to chase down.
With more crossing options in the box, more full-backs would have stayed back, but Ashby burst into the box, before timing it perfectly – and converted the rebound to give West Ham the victory they had been chasing.
So why didn’t he play more for West Ham’s first team? His appearances so far have generally been limited to appearances off the bench in the European campaigns against Dinamo Zagreb and Viborg as well as the Carabao Cup defeat to Tottenham.
He was a member of Chelsea’s academy before moving to West Ham at the age of 9 and made his first team debut at the age of 18 in the Carabao Cup against Charlton Athletic in September 2020. Due to covid-19.
“All the clubs in London wanted Harrison to come and train,” Barry recalls. Despite being born Milton Keynes, Ashby is a Scotland Under-21 international thanks to his maternal grandfather.
But his path to first-team minutes has been blocked in recent years by academy graduate Ben Johnson, two years older and also fan favorite Vladimir Kufal. The versatile Thilo Kehrer is also above him in the pecking order.
He also struggled with a nagging groin injury that significantly affected his pre-season, only recovering in early November. Three days after coming off the bench to lead the under-21 side in the Europa League against FCSB at the end of this month, he picked up another issue, denying him the opportunity to work with David Moyes during the World Cup break.
Moyes will make his Premier League debut for Ashby against Arsenal in December 2021, with the youngster showing confidence.
First touch in the Premier League? Sharply turning the rampaging Eddie Nketias inside, causing him to fall.
Seconds after entering the field, he is comfortable calling attacks on the right. Rising to beat fellow Scotland full-back Kieran Tierney in the air, Ashby promptly pounced on Tomas Soucek’s rebound.
When you see Jarrod Bowen in the pocket, Ashby plays in front of Arsenal’s defense and screams to the line for a dangerous rebound – but Bowen can’t find the line to get through.
He also impressed the defense in difficult situations. With West Ham 2-0 up in the dying minutes, Ashby found two players – Nuno Tavares and Tierney – marking the Acres.
Careful not to overpass, Ashby waits for Tavares to drop the ball before timing the challenge to bring down the ball in anticipation of Thierry’s base run.
It wasn’t a perfect cameo – a late cross for Sucek in his own goal meant Nketiah nearly scored.
Craig Dawson manages to clear the danger – and at least it shows Ashby’s determination to play, rather than clearing the ball straight away, which Howe’s character will enjoy.
Despite being projected as a member of the first team, Ashby is unlikely to play significant minutes right away, especially given his lack of playing time in recent months. But particularly muscular for a full-back, the cameras he showed in senior football show his fitness so far.
Linked up well with Andriy Yarmolenko in the Europa League last season against Dinamo Zagreb, he keeps his feet on the ball and waits for the right moment to survey the pitch and speed up the play.
In the words of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, he is known as a “pause” and it is a remarkable trait for a young player to make his debut. Croatia Under-21 international Daniel Steful played in Yarmolenko’s legs, waiting for him to swing on his heels, and then went wide for the return pass.
Steffel recovers well, but Ashby shows remarkable strength to keep his feet and drive the challenge – and close control. Pablo Fornals curled a cross in at the far post where he headed narrowly wide.
He may be overly ambitious. In the second minute of the same match, he used his pace to try to beat winger Luca Evans out of the box.
He fell down a blind alley and was robbed of the ball.
This enthusiasm can also be seen in his defensive work. Ashby’s entertaining series against Tottenham’s Under-21s in a recent game saw the right-back lead the press.
Despite being out of position, he continues to push and eventually forces the ball back to the keeper.
Coming back to the Dinamo Zagreb game, it was encouraging that Ashby made a mistake early in the game but backed up his performance. In the second half, Ashby took it again when Ivanusek delivered the outside.
This time, though he’s stumbling, Ashby uses his upper body strength to keep the larger attacker at bay.
This eccentricity can also be seen in his defensive work.
In July’s preseason friendly against Servette, Switzerland, Ashby was sold on a no-hitter by Craig Dawson.
However, he was quick to overcome contact in a tackle on defensive midfielder David Doolin before returning to his feet.
Alexis Antunes appeared to be favored for the second loose ball, but Ashby again played for Dawson and claimed possession.
At £3m, Ashby is a low-risk signing. The hope is that he will gain first-team experience as Trippier’s back-up over the next few seasons – until his captain’s contract expires in 2025 – and eventually become first choice.
His qualities are already reminiscent of the England international – and while Ashby is missing out on first-team minutes, remember that Trippier himself has been a late developer.
Their penalty kick skills? Trippier’s attack against Croatia in the 2018 World Cup semi-finals is well known.
Goal! Kieran Trippier b @England Amazing free kick! pic.twitter.com/WRQctKZakk
– ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 11, 2018
Has Ashby caught fire with the Leeds Under-23s? Less.
Harrison Ashby can play! 🎯
The right-back is seen as a long-term replacement for Kieran Trippier and will sign for £3m (add-ons) ✍️⚫️⚪️#NUFC #WHU #WHUFC pic.twitter.com/tLYVVwyY8M
– NUFCblog.co.uk (@NUFCblogco.uk) January 29, 2023
Newcastle will be hoping Ashby Trippier not only has dead ball skills, but will also come to the glass.
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