The young Newcastle Magpies are gearing up for a substantial journey to Berkshire as they set their sights on facing their counterparts from Reading at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. This match comes as a chance for the team to recover from their recent 4-1 loss against Tottenham Hotspur at the Lamex Stadium.
Eighteen-year-old Parkinson, who marked his senior debut for the Magpies during a preseason friendly against Gateshead last month, managed to find the net for Newcastle’s second-string team during their opening day triumph against Southampton. He’s now focused on furthering his goal tally.
The young striker, who also featured for Newcastle’s first-team during the Premier League Summer Series campaign in the United States, shared his thoughts with nufc.co.uk, stating, “Scoring in the first game of the season is always a good feeling. Being a striker, scoring goals is your job and that’s exactly the way you want to start. I just want to continue that form and to get a goal on Friday would be a great start.”
While Parkinson hasn’t specified a precise goal count for the season, he does have a target in mind, taking into account fitness and other factors. He emphasized the importance of setting goals to work toward throughout the season.
Reflecting on the recent loss to Spurs, he noted, “Saturday didn’t go our way but we’re hungry and determined to put things right.” He highlighted the positives from the game and the importance of a strong start to unsettle the opposition.
Expressing his anticipation for the upcoming match at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, he said, “You always want to play in the stadiums. It’s as close as you’re going to get to first-team football, playing on a first-team ground and a quality pitch. It’ll be a great experience and another stadium to tick off the list.”
He acknowledged that the match against Reading would pose both physical and technical challenges, given their opponents’ strengths. Despite their physicality, he emphasized that Reading’s players are also skilled, making it a formidable encounter.
Eddie Howe, Newcastle’s head coach, praised Parkinson’s performances during the Premier League Summer Series matches and other clashes, which served as a confidence boost for the young player.
Parkinson, who recently signed his first professional contract with his beloved club, expressed his satisfaction with his season’s start and appreciated the confidence shown by the coaching staff. He highlighted how encouraging it was to hear his name mentioned by the head coach and felt that his hard work in preseason paid off.
By- Sahiba Suri