--- source: thedugout.football generated: 2026-09-08T22:40:54.551Z last_updated: 2026-09-08T10:00:00+00:00 data_provider: API-Football canonical: https://thedugout.football/clubs/newcastle-united/news/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2hyb25pY2xlbGl2ZS5jby51ay9zcG9ydC9mb290YmFsbC90cmFuc2Zlci1uZXdzL25ld2Nhc3RsZS11bml0ZWQtY2FuLXVubGVhc2gtdW5iZWxpZXZhYmxlLTM0NTgwMzEx --- # Newcastle can unleash 'unbelievable' star who already has a perfect role model - **Source:** - **Published:** 8 Sept - **Club:** Newcastle United - **Original URL:** https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/newcastle-united-can-unleash-unbelievable-34580311 The 18-year-old was the star of United's pre-season campaign over the summer following his £23million move from Ajax and started in each of Newcastle's first two games of the season. He was perhaps unfortunate to come out of the side following the arrival of Nico Gonzalez, with the Spaniard and Lewis Miley forming Newcastle's preferred midfield duo in the win over Tottenham and draw with Bournemouth. But with some rotation expected from Matthias Jaissle ahead of the trip to the Den, Steur - who impressed from the bench in Saturday's draw with the Cherries - is in line to come back into the starting XI. Get Chronicle Premium now for just £1 HERE – exclusive news and features, our NUFC and Academy notebooks, plus an ad-lite experience His positive start to life on Tyneside has come as no surprise to club insiders, particularly given how he impressed in a difficult environment at Ajax last season. Naturally, Steur has formed a big bond with another Ajax academy graduate at Newcastle in Sven Botman, and his Dutch compatriot has spoken about how impressed he has been with how seamlessly he has settled into life at the club. "He came from the Ajax academy as well so we definitely speak about Ajax a lot as it is a club we both grew up in," Botman told Newcastle's official matchday programme. "We both had some good times there. He's just a bit younger than me but it is the same pathway. It is nice to have another Ajax academy player. "He is a good player. Especially for his age, he is unbelievable. Sometimes I tell him, when I was 18 I was just playing in the second team for Ajax. Everybody has their own time and it is going really quickly for him. "He is doing really well, really good. I did not know him before he signed. Since he came, he is a really good guy and good player." Botman was cited by Dan Burn as a new leader in the group this season and amid fears of a 'leadership vacuum forming at the club after the departures of some key players in the summer, he feels as if there are a number of players ready to fill the void. "I am still quite young I think," Botman added. "But in this group I am definitely one of the more experienced ones. It is just a natural way of me trying to help other team-mates and the new players, getting the standards high. "I know I can see everyone else doing the same thing, it is not just one person doing this particular job. We have more leaders in the group, everyone is really vocal and it is good. "We don't have a quiet group here and everyone helps each other. We are all on the same page. On the outside people think it is only certain players who can be leaders. But I have always been vocal and I can never play a football match without speaking. "It is a role I am always used to doing. Now people maybe think because I am older I am suddenly doing it but it is natural to me. It is important we have more people who are vocal. Although we are young players, everyone is really mature."