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Newcastle United had no choice but to surrender one of their best young players in Lewis Gibson just 12 months ago.

Failure to offer the 18-year-old a satisfactory professional deal resulted in Gibson's representatives terminating his scholarship and Everton pounced to sign up the left-footed England youth international.

United, who are now in the market for a left-back this summer, could go on to rue the day Gibson walked out of the door at the club's Little Benton Academy one last time.

As Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez fights for more control of the club's Academy, the Gibson sale is a case in point for the Spaniard that things could be done better at youth level.

True, United could bank a fee of up to £6million if his move to Everton goes on to be a success.

However, that may be just a drop in the ocean if he continues to maintain his rate of development with the Toffees.

After his first year at Goodison Park, Gibson has picked up a Premier League 2 winners medal and a League Cup gong after beating his old club Newcastle in the final earlier this month.

Despite leaving his boyhood team, Gibson has no regrets, he told the Sunday Sun: "It's crazy but one of the things that brought me here was the pathway they have. The fans are passionate here too.

"It was the right decision so far. I've won the double this season. It is time to kick on next season. I am not sure what will happen."

Gibson's next aim is to make his Everton senior debut with the first team under Marco Silva.

Silva and director of football Marcel Brands were in the main stand at Goodison for the 1-0 win over United recently and now Gibson hopes to follow in the footsteps of youngsters like Tom Davies and Jonjoe Kenny.

He said: "I hope it comes as soon as possible.

"I've done well this season so I just have to be ready when I get the call."

However, in the last year, it has been the ambition of Everton that has blown Gibson away.

The first team spent £100million on new players last summer and there's the constant talk of a move to a new stadium.

Farhad Moshiri and Bill Kenwright entered the Everton dressing room before the game against Newcastle Under-23s to give the youngsters a pep talk.

In contrast, the director's seats allocated to Newcastle's top brass were left empty.

Gibson said: "The owner came into the dressing room.

"It was nice to have a chat and he's a great owner.

"He comes in and tells us his stories.

"To have that is very special.

"He tells us about his life he came into the changing room and said he'd kill to be doing what we are doing.

"He said he's done many things in his life he'd love to do what we are doing and pull on the blue shirt.

"That gives us a very special feeling.

"Bill Kenwright and Farhad Moshiri came in and both are as passionate as each other.

"They gave the lads an extra push."

(Image: Getty Images)

Leaving Newcastle wasn't an easy decision for Gibson, but he reflected: "It's a great club.

"Since I moved here I haven't looked back.

"I loved my time at Newcastle and I am thankful for what they did for me in my seven or eight years there.

"When the time came to move it felt right.

"I moved to Everton and had success, now on to the next part."

When speaking about his life since moving to Merseyside, Gibson said: "I moved in with house parents at first.

"They helped me settle in really well.

"Liverpool is a similar city to Newcastle and the people are similar.

"It's a good city to live in.

"Life is good.

"I struggled with injuries at first to be honest.

"But since January things have been on the up.

"I have played a lot of games in the second half of the year and got player of the month in March.

"We got the wins and we have done the double so it hasn't been bad."

(Image: Newcastle United)

Gibson faced his older brother Liam in the final of the Premier League Cup recently and with a smile, he said: "My friends and family came to watch the Premier League Cup final.

"They couldn't really go either way because Liam was on the other team.

"But we got good luck messages.

"It was different.

"That was the first time I have faced Newcastle or my brother on the field.

"It was a cup final too so it was a bit of a mad experience.

"But it was good.

"We embraced it and I'm glad we got the win.

"There was a job to be done still.

"I knew most of the lads anyway as most of them are friends for life.

"It was different but it was about doing it for the cause."

Gibson's older sibling Liam was suffering from the serious illness ulcerative colitis last year but battled back tremendously well to play for United's second string this season.

It proved to be a special moment for Lewis to face him in the final or the "Gibson derby" as some fans put it.

Lewis said: "I am buzzing for him.

"He deserves everything he gets.

"To be where he was a year ago to where he is now is good to see.

"I am proud of him, whatever he does now.

"When we were younger our goal was to play on the big stage together.

"We have done that now."