Striker pays St James’ Park visit v West Ham ahead of Newcastle United trial

Teenage forward Dujuan Richards was at St James’ Park on Saturday night to watch Newcastle United’s 1-1 draw against West Ham United.

The 17-year-old starlet touched down in England last week after sources in Jamaica revealed he had landed a two-week trial with the Magpies.

It’s understood Richards is due to the club’s academy base this week after arriving on Tyneside over the weekend.

Richards, nicknamed “Whisper”, plays for Kingston College, where he has netted more than 30 goals and provided 19 assists. His breakout form recently led to a Jamaica training squad call-up.

Craig Butler, founder and president of the Phoenix Academy that has played a major part in Richards’ development, confirmed last month the youngster was set to trial with a club currently in the top five of the Premier League table.

“He [Richards] is going to England to do a trial with a club there and we are looking forward to seeing him perform at that level and to make his path,” Butler told the Jamaica Observer. “He is a very talented young player and a very powerful young player and a very dedicated young player.

“I believe that it is now the right time to make the move to go and show what he can do so that when it is time for him to sign, he would have been well-known and well-appreciated by the clubs in England and mainland Europe.

“It is one of the top five clubs in the English Premier League at the moment, but this is not something that is new to Phoenix,” Butler added.

“It is something that we have gone through before. We all know that the Phoenix players have been developed the proper way, good technique, good development and Whisper (Dujuan Richards) is one of those that are at the highest level.”

Butler is the agent and step-dad of Aston Villa star Leon Bailey.