Svar på tal av ”Nil” Ranger
Klubbens mest intressante unge spelare har äntligen nätat på St James’ Park.
Underbarnet Nile Ranger, 18, tog oskulden när han fastställde slutresultatet 2–0 mot Crystal Palace i onsdags. Det trots att han missade en klarare målchans dessförinnan.
Målet var Rangers andra för säsongen, det första kom till mot Coventry i december månad. En strålande glad ung lirare berättar:
“I was just glad to do it and seal the game for the fans, they were brilliant, not only turning up and there being nearly 40,000 here but they stayed with us for the game, so to do that for them was amazing.”
“It seems like it has been a while, I haven’t scored since the Coventry game but to score at St James’ Park was amazing.”
“It’s everybody’s dream to do it and score for Newcastle United here. And to do it as an 18-year-old is just amazing.”
Trots att Nile bara spelade bredvid debutanten Wayne Routhledge under en kortare period infann sig en påtaglig kemi spelarna emellan.
“I got told to just go on there and kill the game, Chris just told me to give it my all as usual.”
“Wayne Routledge is a good player, he’s been at a few clubs and has the experience. He saw me make that run and he’s picked me out very nicely.”
“I just had to keep my cool. When I went clean through I thought I was going to lose control at one stage, but I composed myself and found the finish.”
Newcastle sitter inne på en ocean av sparkapitel i form av den engelska U19-landslagsmannen. Den 188 centimeter långe anfallaren har öst in mål i reserv- och landslag, men haft det tuffare på seniornivå. Nu gäller det att han fortsätter på inslagen bana och fortsätter att göra mål.
Hans lagkamrater har ju skämtsamt kallat honom för ”Nil” Ranger – förhoppningsvis för sista gången.
“It’s killed off the jibes from my team-mates again. They were starting to come back at me with a few cheeky comments but I’m proud to score and silence them again for a bit.”
Nile tillför raketfart på offensiv planhalva, och alla skator hoppas väl att London-yngligen fortsätter sin fenomenala utveckling som han haft sedan Dennis Wise hämtade råtalangen från Southampton för 18 månader sedan. Manager Chris Hughton ser tillbaka på onsdagsmatchen:
“It was a wonderful finish. He could have panicked but, credit to him, he kept his cool and it was a relief to see it go in.”
“He had the chance with the header a little bit earlier so he’s done well to come back from that and take his next chance.”
“I’m pleased for him because he came on and gave us something we needed which was a little bit of legs and, in the end, has made sure of the points for us.”
