The 2012/13 season promises to be a massive season for Newcastle United in more way than one. The added games that come along with Continental tournament football will lend it’s self to some of the fringe players getting first-team opportunities within the hectic schedule of games.

The fringe players who immediately spring to mind are Gael Bigirimana, Romain Amalfitano, James Tavernier, Sammy Ameobi, Adam Campbell and Haris Vuckic, all of who, bar young Sammy due to injury, have already made appearances in the competitions qualifying phase, with Bigirmana even making a cameo Premier League appearance.

However, one man who seems to have fallen down the pecking order is Mehdi Abeid. Abeid was a player on the cusp of breaking into the first team last season, impressing on more than one occasion for the second string.

So I find it strange to see Abeid failing to get a look in either of the Europa league qualifiers and that new boys Amalfitano & Bigirimana are jumping ahead of him in the pecking order, with Amalfitano & Bigirimana both named as subsitutes for the draw against Aston Villa, with the latter replacing Danny Simpson just 38minutes in.

There was rumours over the summer that Pardew was eager to loan the player out to gain him some pivotal first-team experience, with reports suggesting Abeid could make the step down to the Championship with a handful of clubs linked. Though the transfer window itself might have closed on August 31st, clubs from the second tier down of English football can loan in players from the 8th of September until the 25th of November.

If Abeid is n0t loaned out then he is most definitely a player who I personally would like to see more of, if only in the Europa League group stages.

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