Travis Hernes is confident of making his debut for Newcastle United’s first team before the end of this season, and it will finally complete his dream after he was rejected by Wolves as a youngster.
Eddie Howe included the 18-year-old in the squad to face Fulham in the FA Cup and then Aston Villa in the league. However, he was an unused substitute on both occasions.
The Newcastle youngster has been speaking to Norway’s TV2, where he opened up about his feelings on being included in the first team squad.
“It’s crazy. You hear nothing, and you can’t do anything but look around and try to take it in. It’s like what you dream about when you’re little. When I was called up for first team training, it was crazy to think that I’ve played with all these guys here on FIFA and they just have no idea who I am,” he said.
Newcastle United sealed a 3-1 win over Unai Emery’s side at Villa Park and the young midfielder was clearly thrilled even though he was left on the bench.
“There are players you see on TV and think ‘Wow, they are good’. So, when you sit on the bench, all you want is to just experience what it’s like to be on the pitch in a Premier League match,” Hernes explained.
According to TV2, he was particularly impressed by Newcastle striker Alexander Isak and summer signing Sandro Tonali.
“It doesn’t feel real when you’re in the dressing room with Champions League footballers, sort of. But you just have to get used to it,” he added.
The Tyneside club signed Hernes from Shrewsbury Town last summer and he’s represented Newcastle’s U18, U19 and U21 sides so far. Wolverhampton Wanderers had earlier rejected him before he joined the League One side.
TV2 state he used this as motivation, and ‘got revenge’ over Wolves when he scored against them for Shrewsbury Town.
“They [Wolves] said I wasn’t good enough. I was really upset. When you’re from Norway, the only thing you want to do is play for a Premier League club,” he said.
“When I was 16, I ended up playing against Wolverhampton, and then I ended up scoring against them. So even though I was really upset at first, I think it was for the better.”
The teenager is now aiming to play under Howe’s orders for the senior team this season.
“When you train with the team every day and you’re taken out on the bench, it shows you’re doing something right. I have to continue to do my best and show that I deserve that place in the squad,” the Norwegian concluded.
