Newcastle United fans have been in good spirits in the Transfer Tavern this week following their side’s credible draw with Liverpool on Sunday.
Rafa Benitez’s men went into their encounter with the Merseyside giants having lost 1-0 to Brighton a week earlier, which brought to an end a fine run of three successive Premier League victories.
And Jurgen Klopp’s men threatened to inflict a second consecutive defeat on the Reds when Philippe Coutinho’s stunner gave them a 29th minute lead, only for Joselu to benefit from some woeful defending to level up proceedings seven minutes later.
That point took Newcastle up to ninth in the division ahead of this fortnight’s international break, yet the hard work doesn’t stop for those Magpies scouts, who will reportedly be in Vienna this evening to watch Austria take on Serbia in a 2018 World Cup qualifier.
The hosts have a faint chance of reaching second place in Group D but need successive wins and other results to go their way to clinch a runners-up spot, which itself may not be enough to earn a play-off place.
However, Serbia are in a much healthier position and know victory this evening would seal their place in Russia next year, although the task for Newcastle scouts will be to identify what talent their club could look to land in either the January or summer transfer windows.
The report doesn’t disclose any names that they are looking at in particular, so here are THREE players who they should keep an eye on in the Austrian capital this evening…
Matija Nastasic
It may not have worked for Matija Nastasic at Manchester City, but he did show some signs of promise during his three-year stint at the Etihad Stadium.
The Serbia international played 51 times for the Citizens and helped them to the Premier League title back in 2014, yet injuries thwarted his progress in the latter stages, and he was subsequently loaned and then later sold to Schalke.
The 24-year-old is doing well at the Bundesliga club but knows the Premier League and what it’s about, and thus Newcastle scouts should keep an eye on his efforts against Austria this evening, especially as his contract is up in the summer of 2019.
Louis Schaub
As per 2014, Austria’s Louis Schaub was listed by IBWM as one of the 100 most exciting players back in 2014, although he had to wait another two years for his senior debut for his country.
The Rapid Vienna midfielder came up through the ranks at the Austrian outfit and has since gone on to play 182 games for the club, in which time he has scored 41 goals and laid on 24 assists.
And with four goals and four assists this term, the 22-year-old’s rise doesn’t show any signs of letting up, and should he get a chance for his country this evening against Serbia, those Newcastle scouts must keep an eye on him, as there’s little doubt that he would make a huge difference to the Magpies midfield ranks.
Luka Milivojevic
Crystal Palace’s horrendous start to the new Premier League season may give January signing Luka Milivojevic something to think about come the New Year.
The Serbia midfielder has started five of their seven league games this term, but seven defeats leaves Roy Hodgson’s men firmly rooted to the bottom of the division, and already facing an uphill struggle to avoid the drop.
Nonetheless, 26-year-old Milivojevic proved his worth to the Eagles last term with several impressive displays in midfield, and another one tonight may be of interest to those Newcastle scouts, who could use Palace’s lowly position to their advantage in January.
