Former Newcastle United manager John Carver has admitted that he affected striker Adam Armstrong's development by not sending him out on loan last season.
The 18-year-old has scored 12 goals in 15 appearances so far on loan at Coventry City, and Carver revealed that he had to keep Armstrong at the club because of a lack of depth in the squad.
The 50-year-old told BBC Sport: "Last year I had to keep Armstrong at St James' Park, because I had nobody else.
"I held up his development – the club held up his development. He should have played at Coventry last season, and then this season be playing for someone like Rotherham in the Championship.
"We have slowed his development down, but if the kid's good enough he'll get an opportunity. I feel guilty, because I know his parents really well, but there's nothing I could have done about it."
Newcastle are reportedly looking at recalling the youngster in January and potentially sending him back on loan to a Championship club.
Nathan Staples
