Toon scout Ipsich kid

By Matthew Jones
January 27 2003

Newcastle United have once again scouted Ipswich's England Under-19 midfielder Darren Ambrose. The young star was watched in FA Cup action at the weekend.

The Magpies director of football, Gordon Milne watched the 18-year-old put in a sparkling second-half show after coming on as a substitute in Ipswich Town's 4-3 defeat at Sheffield United on Saturday.

The right-sided midfielder who came on at half-time with Ipswich 2-0 down - went on to win a penalty and set Marcus Bent up for the leveller, before going close to making it 3-2 with a stunning long-range effort.

Both league-leaders, Arsenal and Newcastle's midweek opponents Tottenham are too in the race for Ambrose's signature - but Ipswich are unlikely to entertain any bids for the £4m-rated star until the summer at least.

Meanwhile, another solid show from Magpies defender Wayne Quinn - back at left-back in a Sheffield United shirt - showed Milne why Blades chief Neil Warnock is keen on extending the player's loan deal.

Newcastle boss Sir Bobby Robson, though, would prefer to sanction a permanent £600,000 deal for a player out of the first-team picture at St James' Park.