JAMES TAVERNIER has a big future in the game, says Ian Bogie – and can grace the Newcastle United first team for years to come.
The 19-year-old has just ended a loan spell at Gateshead prematurely, after the Magpies recalled him in the wake of James Perch’s impending suspension.
Tavernier was a big hit at the International Stadium, helping the Tynesiders to the FA Trophy semi-final and consolidating their position in the Blue Square Bet Premier.
And provided the versatile defender continues to learn how best to make use of his gifts, Bogie believes he can go “all the way”.
“Tav’s been fantastic for us and obviously has a big future in the game,” Bogie said.
“I’ve no doubt he can go all the way.
“He’s got all the tools necessary to be a modern-day professional footballer. But it’s also about using them in the right fashion.
“He’s got great energy, he’s a proper athlete, he’s got what’s required to succeed at the top level.
“The difference between top players and mediocre ones is their decision-making.
“You get that with experience and Tav will benefit from having spent this time with Gateshead.
“He’s still a young lad with a lot to learn. As long as he takes on board what the coaches at Newcastle tell him, and what he’s learned while he’s been with us, I’m sure he’ll make it.
“He can grace the right-back slot for Newcastle United for years to come.
“We’ve given him a good experience of regular first-team football, of playing the right way but with a competitive edge.
“That will stand him in good stead, people at Newcastle have already said that.
“We thank Newcastle United for his services over the last 10 weeks or so, and wish him well.
“We knew what he was all about when he first came to Gateshead because I’d seen him in the (Newcastle) reserves, and we know a lot of people at Newcastle.
“He was recommended to us, and we’d watched him a few times.
“He played some cracking games for us and was a big part of us winning all seven of our games in February and getting to the semi-final of the FA Trophy, and almost to Wembley.
“He’s been a big player for us. His marauding runs down the right caused the opposition all sorts of problems and he has been a breath of fresh air.
“For the most part he has been excellent, and if he irons out one or two flaws, which I’m sure he will at Newcastle, he will go on to be a top player.”
And, Bogie hopes, not the last Newcastle starlet to gain invaluable experience in Gateshead’s colours now that the club is a full-time operation.
“It’s been difficult in the past for us to get players from Newcastle because we’ve been part-time,” he said.
“Now we’re finding our feet in the Conference National and we believe we’ve got a lot to offer in return for taking players on loan. We’re a good footballing side – anybody who watches us can see that.
“So people know they can send players here in the knowledge that they’ll get to play in the right way and benefit from playing games with a real competitive edge.
“I know Peter Beardsley very well, John Carver’s a former Gateshead player and Steve Stone is a Gateshead lad.
“I speak to them all regularly and they’ve been heartened by Tav’s experience with us.”
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2011/03/25/ian-bogie-believes-james-tavernier-has-bright-future-at-newcastle-united-72703-28402523/
