Bright sparky

It's not often a 19-year-old reserve gets a whole article on the main BBC Football page lavished on them, especially one who hasn't yet kicked a ball for the first team, but that's been the reality for Michael Richardson.

Mike Henson has reported on the incredible progress the dynamic former Walker Central midfielder and trainee electrician has made at Newcastle since impressing on trial last August. Through a winning combination of ability and application Richardson has fast-tracked himself through the ranks and all the way onto the subs' bench for the fixtures against Fulham and Everton.

With the suggestion that chief scout Graham Carr's remit is to identify cheap, young talent abroad, it's heartening to know that we're also keeping an eye on prospective signings closer to home. Richardson may have initially passed under the club's radar, but the common consensus is that a stint in non-league football has actually done him some good.

If he continues to develop at the same rapid rate, then a place in the first team may be within his reach before long - no doubt Jabba would be particularly delighted. But I suspect that, given his recent enthusing about the loan system, Alan Pardew will farm him out somewhere on loan first - Lee Clark's Huddersfield, perhaps?