4 NUFC Youngsters Who Could Step In During Defensive Crisis

3. Callum Williams

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qvz3FglZPqA The Bishop Auckland-born defender is a modern-day centre-back - he is slight of frame and only 5ft 10ins, but he likes to be on the ball and advance up the pitch with it. He bases himself on Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels, and so hates to waste possession - so he certainly doesn't look to Mike Williamson for inspiration. Best friends with fellow Under-21 centre-back Lubomir Satka, the 18-year-old has formed a strong partnership at reserve-team level with his teammate and the pair linked up well against Blackburn, talking all of the time - however, throwing Williams into the first-team mix would be a risk. Physically, Tony Pulis would have a field day and would bombard the centre-back with set pieces - although the upside would be he is a genuine centre-back, which Newcastle are short of at the moment. Verdict: It would be a serious risk bringing Williams into the first team. He is comfortable on the ball but he is not yet physically mature enough to compete with an aerial bombardment from West Bromwich Albion. A place on the bench should not be out of the question though.