‘Surreal’ - Newcastle United 16-year-old reacts to shock Champions League squad call-up

Newcastle United teenage goalkeeper Aidan Harris has reflected on his “surreal” Champions League call-up versus AC Milan last month.

With Martin Dubravka unwell, Harris was drafted into Eddie Howe’s squad as the Magpies’ third goalkeeper behind the starting Nick Pope and back-up Loris Karius.

The 16-year-old was due to fly to Milan with the under-19s to compete in the UEFA Youth League before receiving a phone from the academy’s head of goalkeeping Tony Caig.

“It was just so surreal, something I’ve never experienced before,” Harris told the club’s matchday programme. “It was almost like a dream and it didn’t sink in until after the game and realising I’d been on the bench for Newcastle United’s first team.

“I was out bowling with my Dad and I received a call from Tony Caig, the academy’s head of goalkeeping, who told me there was a change of plan. I was expecting to go with the under-19s team to the UEFA Youth League game but I would be travelling with the first-team instead.

“Initially, I was thinking ‘wow’ and I didn’t really know what to say, I couldn’t believe it.”

Harris was eligible for selection through Newcastle’s Champions League ‘List B’, which is for players born on or before January 1, 2002 and have been eligible to play for the club for an uninterrupted period of at least two years or three years including a one-year loan spell.

An unlimited number of players can be named on ‘List B’ and they can be submitted by midnight the day before a match in order for players to be eligible to play.

“It was my first time in a senior matchday squad and the main bit that sticks with me would be walking out at the San Siro to warm up with the goalkeepers,” Harris said. “That’s something I’ll never forget and it’s one of the best experiences I’ve had.

“You learn so much from watching. It felt great warming up with such top goalkeepers in Nick [Pope] and Loris [Karius]. Nick had such a good game and I was looking at what he was doing so I can apply certain bits to my own game.

“I’m a fan of the club so I would normally be the one clapping the players who were on the pitch - so it felt a bit weird to be applauding the supporters in the crowd.

“We were getting a lot of booing from the home fans but then we had the support from the away supporters, which was surreal. It’s made me more hungry to become a top goalkeeper. It might be within touching distance but I am getting closer and closer. I need to keep working hard towards that.”

Newcastle are back in the Champions League action on Wednesday as they welcome Paris Saint-Germain to St James’ Park.