New deal for the real deal?

Congratulations to 17-year-old Academy prospect Adam Armstrong, who - alongside 'keeper Freddie Woodman and Slovak defender Lubo Satka - has earned himself a new long-term contract. The lively striker, who recently made his debut from the bench against Fulham and is currently competing for England U17s at the European Championships, commented: "The manager’s shown an interest in the young players which is really good" - perhaps out of necessity rather than choice, though, Adam...

As we celebrate one youngster on the fringes of the first team, we shouldn't forget another who has been there before and is now trying to force his way back into the frame through his loan exploits. Haris Vuckic may have been a stoppage-time sub for Rotherham last night, but there was still time on the clock for him to head the Millers' third against a shellshocked Brentford, the side currently sitting in second place in League Two. It should also be duly noted that fellow Toon loanee James Tavernier got the ball rolling for the Yorkshire side, winning the penalty from which Kieran Agard gave them an early lead.

The Romain invasion

A warm welcome to the club to Romain Amalfitano, the forward-thinking midfielder having joined the club as expected. He fits our recent bill to a tee - young (22), French and on a free transfer - and arrives on Tyneside fresh from helping Stade de Reims to promotion to Ligue 1.

He wasn't our first official signing of the summer, though - that honour fell to 16-year-old centre-back Lubomir Satka, recruited from our one-time European opponents FK ZTS Dubnica. Very much one for the future.

The Slovakian could soon be joined in our defensive ranks by a pair of Frenchmen: Mathieu Debuchy, the Lille right-back still firmly on our radar, and Mapou Yanga-Mwiba. The latter's name would be difficult enough to pronounce, let alone work into a chant, but we like a challenge.

Yanga-Mwiba is in France's provisional squad for Euro 2012 and helped unfancied Montpellier claim the title ahead of the likes of Marseille and moneybags PSG. The club's president Louis Nicollin looked on as expensively acquired big names flopped before relegation prompted a policy rethink, resulting in a shoestring budget and a strict wage cap. According to the BBC's Matt Spiro, "modern-day Montpellier is founded on hard work, exceptional spirit, homegrown talent and some extremely shrewd signings". Remind you of anyone in particular? (And yes, let's count Big Lad as "homegrown talent"...)