Bury boss Lee Clark heaps praise on Newcastle loanee Heardman

(Picture: Action Images via Reuters)

Bury have completed the season-long loan signing of Newcastle youngster Tom Heardman – a striker Shakers boss Lee Clark has likened to Andy Carroll.

The 20-year-old has recently penned a new one-year deal with last season’s Championship champions, after impressing in the Magpies under-23 side, but has been shipped out to Gigg Lane to gain some valuable first-team experience.

Heardman will link up with Clark, who was in charge of the Newcastle reserves in 2005 when Carroll came to prominence, as he plots Bury’s promotion bid after ending last season well and having had a promising start to the transfer window.

With the likes of former Blackpool captain Tom Aldred already signing, the former Huddersfield boss has heaped praise on his latest recruit, telling The Bury Times: “Tom is a young, energetic player.

“He is six-foot-four and will be a different asset for us. We will be able to feed on his flick-ons and knock downs but he is not just a big guy, he is very athletic and reminds me of a young Andy Carroll.

“I’m not concerned [about his lack of professional appearances]. These young lads need a chance just like our young lads do and we believe he can add something extra to our group. He has already hit the ground running this week.”

It is not just Clark who holds Heardman in high-regard, with Newcastle legend and current reserve team coach Peter Beardsley also quick to emphasise just how highly he rates the young striker.

Speaking to the Chronicle, he said: “We like him and love everything about him.

“He’s not loud or busy or full of himself. He gets it and he knows he’s not a Mitrovic or Daryl Murphy.”