Newcastle United's defensive options are looking a tad thin on the ground as the Magpies fight on three fronts towards the business end of the season. Recent setbacks to Dan Burn and Sven Botman, the sale of Lloyd Kelly and the temporary exits of young duo Charlie McArthur and Alex Murphy means it is slim pickings for Eddie Howe at the centre of his defence.

Newcastle are hoping to avoided serious injuries to both Burn and Botman, with the former limping out of Saturday's win over Birmingham and the latter not being risked for the FA Cup clash - but should the senior duo miss out, an opportunity may present itself to under-21 talent Cathal Heffernan.

The Irishman, 19, hasn't experienced too much first-team action since swapping AC Milan's youth setup for the Magpies in 2023 but was called up to senior training this week, along with fellow teenager prospect Leo Shahar. Heffernan has featured in all but one of United's under-21 league fixtures this term and is seen as a core member of the team by fellow countryman and head coach Diarmuid O'Carroll.

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There has also been previous opportunities to impress at a higher level, namely when coming off the bench in Newcastle's pre-season friendly with Yokohama F. Marinos in Tokyo. This, just months after Heffernan was forced to miss the club's post-season trip to Australia after a freak injury.

“I found out that I was going to Australia on the Friday, and then on the Saturday morning I was taking all my stuff out of the training ground, so I had my boots in my hand, I had everything,” the former Cork City youngster said over the summer.

“You know the way you’d hold the door open with your leg. The next thing the door closed on the back of my heel. It was sore in the moment and I was walking out to my car. Then I put all my stuff into my car, I looked down and there was a load of blood.”

Heffernan is one of a few young, Irish talents purchased by Newcastle in recent seasons. Murphy, who was shipped out on loan to Bolton Wanderers after enjoying a handful of appearances in Howe's senior side, was one of the first young talents secured after the takeover when signed from Galway United in 2022.

Newcastle also this week confirmed the signing of fellow Galway star, Kyle Fitzgerald, with the winger arriving during the January window. The 18-year-old forward insists becoming the latest talent to join the Magpies was a 'no-brainer', with Heffernan helping him settle into his new surroundings.

"It was a tough week of training in Pinatar, getting fit in the heat, and also getting to know the lads," Fitzgerald told the club's official website. "They were very welcoming with me and the likes of Heff (Cathal Heffernan), who is also Irish, helped to introduce me into the group and I'm getting on very well with them.

"Coming from Ireland into an English academy, there's a massive difference in quality and training. Back home, I was only training three nights a week whereas, at Newcastle, I'm training five to six mornings and then playing a match at the weekend."