Sammy Ameobi is a great example to any Academy hopeful
The news that Sammy Ameobi has agreed a new deal with Newcastle United can only be classed as one of the more positive pieces of reportage coming out of the four walls of St James' Park in recent days.
But for Sammy, it is rich reward for a player that has worked his socks off to become a firm favourite with Toon fans.
Don't forget it was only SIX months ago that Ameobi was strutting his stuff in the reserves against Blyth Spartans, only for him to go from strength to strength.
Ameobi has seen from close range just how difficult it is to make the grade at St James' Park.
The crop of players that he was brought through the Academy have all had mixed fortunes in their search for first team stardom, with some plying their trade at lower league level and some in lesser known leagues in Europe.
Not only that, Sammy knows that even after making the first team locker room, the pressure and expectations to stay there and perform is even harder with his older brother Shola Ameobi - for all his exploits in big European games and derby games against Sunderland - still enduring his fair share of stick.
One of my first memories of Sammy Ameobi, was an away game in the reserves at Hartlepool at a deserted Victoria Park.
United won 2-1 and Sammy came off the bench at the same ground in which the famous chant of "If Shola scores we're on the pitch" was born.
Running on the pitch is something that is simply not acceptable in modern football.
But that night a pocket full of travelling Newcastle fans chanted the song that would later cause scenes of chaos at Darlington: "If Sammy scores we're on the pitch".
Moments later at Hartlepool in the Totesport Reserve League Cup, Sammy did exactly that.
Nobody ran on the pitch, but we witnessed a strike of sheer quality from Ameobi.
It was obvious then, three years ago, that the youngster had plenty to work on.
Yet credit to the staff at Newcastle, they have helped develop another player, and once more a Geordie to boot.
I think everybody here salutes Sammy's efforts so far.
But knowing he is one of the most level headed youngsters at the club, he will also know, the hard work starts now.
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Lee Ryder - Proudly born and bred on Tyneside, the Chronicle's chief sports writer has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.
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