It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting Trinity House in Newcastle, CA gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Newcastle, CA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“Melanie Daly, Director of Sales & Marketing for Always Best Care, truly goes above and”
“Had a great experience”
“Dan has such a big heart for seniors especially for veterans. If you know a”
“Always Best Care has been providing me with service since January 2023. All the”
“We contracted with Always Best Care, located at 1406 Blue Oaks Blvd, Roseville, CA (916)”
“It all starts with Kristie, the scheduler! We are hard to please, but she has”
“Always Best Care has been a wonderful addition to my mom’s home care. We”
“Caring, professional, and truly dependable. They treat clients like family.”
“This company is amazing. I would recommend it to everybody. If you need reliable, loving,”
“Always Best Care is showing me how having good care is the best care and”
“As a Disabled vet I have appreciated the caregivers Always Best Care has provided. Among”
“Our family has used your service for our daughter Tamara Bohringer, who has stage 4”
“Monique m is amazing work we had a good conversation she is amazing”
“Victoria Bourke has been helping take care of my grandfather for sometime now! She is”
“Great caregivers who go above and beyond! Absolutely love Melia B! She is so joyful”
“Shoutout to Laura for being an incredible caretaker for my mom Mae! Always prompt, thoughtful”
“We are happy we chose Always Best Care to help our loved one recuperate from”
“Annie N. is the best caregiver. She goes above and beyond to care and assist”
“Gabby is very sweet and always conscience of job and our needs. She is”
“Lynette Devan has been our caretaker since January 2024. We have been very pleased and”
“We have received excellent care from Always Best Care for the past two years. They”
“Always Best Care is a great option in the Boston area if you’re looking for”
“We had an amazing experience with Always Best during a very challenging time. Their coordination”
“Great care for my husband, David Reynolds. We are happy with our caregiver Shristi”
“Eshneet with Always Best Care is an honest and trustworthy person. I would highly recommend”
“Melanie Daly, Director of Sales & Marketing for Always Best Care, truly goes above and beyond for the families she serves. Even though her primary service areas are Lafayette and Roseville, she thoughtfully referred a wonderful family to Brentwood Grove Senior Living, where they’ve now chosen to move into one of our spacious 2-bedroom apartments. Melanie’s professionalism, compassion, and commitment to finding the right fit for seniors make her an outstanding partner in senior placement. Highly recommend!!!!”
“Had a great experience”
“Dan has such a big heart for seniors especially for veterans. If you know a veteran who just needs some who will listen to their needs or someone to talk to who understands what they are going through contact Dan at always best care. Thanks, Dan, for being a caring person who really cares about people first.”
“Always Best Care has been providing me with service since January 2023. All the caregivers are very competent. The two who have been with me most of the time and provided me with the highest quality of care are Lorainne Nanca and Janie Torkelson. We could not do without them. Update 12/13/25 by Dennis Letl [husband]. Ann passed away on 11/15. We had secured the services from Always Best Care in January 2023, having them for nearly 3 years until Ann passed say. The care givers were exceptional. The ones who stood out included Lorainne, Janey, Cheyanne, Tiara, and Victoria. They all responded to Ann’s needs in a respectful and professional manner. And, in addition, the office staff were also extremely proficient and professional in their interaction with us. We highly recommend Always Best Care for care giving and related services. Dennis Letl.”
“We contracted with Always Best Care, located at 1406 Blue Oaks Blvd, Roseville, CA (916) 266-6453), and couldn’t be happier. From the start, they conducted an excellent and thorough evaluation of our needs by Susan, care manager, and then assigned Jennifer, our service provider, who goes above and beyond every day. She is strong, capable, and caring. I highly recommend this office for in-home health care services. — Tony Wood”
“It all starts with Kristie, the scheduler! We are hard to please, but she has persevered and helped us find the right match. She is a thoughtful, kind and smart member of your team! Beth Cutler has become our most trusted helper. She is open to new routines and remembers all our little quirks. She has become a wonderful cook! She checks in if we ask for a new recipe, but she needs no tutoring the next time. She is prompt, resourceful and caring. She is a good problem solver and has initiated some great routines. She does laundry and tends to my needs. Nancy Farías has become our weekend caregiver. She sees what needs to be done and uses her time here like a whirlwind. She vacuums, mops the kitchen, does laundry and fixes our lunch and dinner - she is a confident cook and a caring helper. She too remembers how we like things to be done. She wants feedback and cheerfully adjusts things.”
“Always Best Care has been a wonderful addition to my mom’s home care. We have had many caregivers over the years but Raj has been so good with my mom. She is proactive and never misses a beat.. Raj has been an integral part of our family and we are so fortunate to have her….I also want to thank Kristie and the entire team behind the scenes making things as smooth as possible…”
“Caring, professional, and truly dependable. They treat clients like family.”
“This company is amazing. I would recommend it to everybody. If you need reliable, loving, compassionate in‑home care, you’ll feel so comfortable knowing your loved one is in great hands.”
“Always Best Care is showing me how having good care is the best care and my care-give Nicole is always giving me support for whatever”
“As a Disabled vet I have appreciated the caregivers Always Best Care has provided. Among those, Rashida B. has been exceptional. Recently I spent six weeks in a VA hospital and was very thankful that Rashida was able to resume her caregiving upon my return - and she didn't miss a beat. I wish to thank her and the scheduling team at Always Best Care that made my return home as seamless as possible.”
“Our family has used your service for our daughter Tamara Bohringer, who has stage 4 cancer, for the last 13 months. Juana Felix every Monday for 3 hours. Also, Ashley Wright every Thursday for 8 hours. They both helped taking care of her needs and their companionship has been priceless. Thank you for your services. Also add Janie Torkelson who has helped our regular care givers.”
“Monique m is amazing work we had a good conversation she is amazing”
“Victoria Bourke has been helping take care of my grandfather for sometime now! She is the best! So helpful, and attentive to his needs! Always appreciate her and the care she gives to my grandfather!”
“Great caregivers who go above and beyond! Absolutely love Melia B! She is so joyful and willing to try anything. Also love our weekend team Roseanne and Christine. Thank you everyone! The Sanchez Family”
“Shoutout to Laura for being an incredible caretaker for my mom Mae! Always prompt, thoughtful and caring???????????????????????????????????? also have to say Vivian is another great person. So resourceful kind and lovely. We also enjoy Cristina’s assistance So happy we found Always Best Care!!!”
“We are happy we chose Always Best Care to help our loved one recuperate from a lengthy hospital stay. Victoria and Tiera have been wonderful help and easy to have in our home. They were the first caregivers we’d ever had and were a bit concerned how it would out. We are very pleased. Anita and Rashida, while new to our family, have been a great help, too. Yes, 5 Star service all! The office staff is very professional and quick to answer any question.”
“Annie N. is the best caregiver. She goes above and beyond to care and assist my disabled father. She is highly experienced and professional. She always has a pleasant attitude and making sure all his basic needs are met. I noticed the difference in his mental health and working on his abilities to thrive, not focused too much on his disability. I highly recommend Always Best Care. They are great communicating with you and scheduling to ensure you have the right caregiver.”
“Gabby is very sweet and always conscience of job and our needs. She is great.”
“Lynette Devan has been our caretaker since January 2024. We have been very pleased and this is my second review of Lynette 's service to us through always best. To put it succinctly, she is the BEST!. She continues to be self-motivated, helping us with cooking, incidental, laundry, gardening and watering and just loves our birds. My sister, Ann, is especially pleased with Lynette's services. Somehow, she has not gotten tired of my dad's stories and can hold her own with telling her own stories of a very fascinating life. WE are extremely pleased with always best providing Lynette's service. Jim & Ray Moitoza”
“We have received excellent care from Always Best Care for the past two years. They have consistently provided supportive, kind, and reliable caregivers, as well as top notch communication and support around scheduling. Our current caregivers, Juana and Shannon, have been the best medicine for my disabled husband. It has been a blessing to be able to rely on them to provide the much needed support at this time in our lives. We look forward to seeing them every week and every member of the family feels supported. Kamala has always been a responsive and flexible person to reach out to with questions or requests/changes in scheduling as well. All of the staff we have interacted with have been great. We have worked with 2 other agencies in the past and ABC is above and beyond any of our past experiences.”
“Always Best Care is a great option in the Boston area if you’re looking for private Home-care and other services. It came highly recommended.”
“We had an amazing experience with Always Best during a very challenging time. Their coordination of services and quality of caregivers are exceptional. We were especially appreciative of the caregiving support of Brianna. She was not only intuitive, but also very compassionate and professional. We highly recommend them.”
“Great care for my husband, David Reynolds. We are happy with our caregiver Shristi S”
“Eshneet with Always Best Care is an honest and trustworthy person. I would highly recommend Always Best Care and Eshneet for helping your loved ones find the right senior care.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Exhibition Park in Newcastle, CA with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Silk Room Restaurant & Champagne Room or visit Newcastle Castle, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Newcastle, CA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Newcastle, CA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Newcastle, CA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Newcastle United have completed the signing of Guinea-Bissau forward Afner Cá.The 19-year-old joins the club’s Academy following the expiry of his contract with La Liga side Levante.Cá, who moved to Spain from Portuguese club Amora FC in the summer of 2025, made 27 appearances in all competitions for Levante U19s last season, scoring four goals.He previously made his senior debut for Amora in the Campeonato de Portugal during the 2024/25 campaign, having impressed the previous year with 13 goals acros...
Newcastle United have completed the signing of Guinea-Bissau forward Afner Cá.
The 19-year-old joins the club’s Academy following the expiry of his contract with La Liga side Levante.
Cá, who moved to Spain from Portuguese club Amora FC in the summer of 2025, made 27 appearances in all competitions for Levante U19s last season, scoring four goals.
He previously made his senior debut for Amora in the Campeonato de Portugal during the 2024/25 campaign, having impressed the previous year with 13 goals across 31 appearances at youth level.
On his signing, Afner said: “The project here, the lifestyle, and the club’s ambition made this the right move for me.
“I’m a forward who likes to find space, link play and work hard for the team. Scoring goals is a big part of my game, but my focus is always on contributing to the group, whatever helps the team win.
Ross Wilson, Newcastle United Sporting Director, said: “We’re pleased to see Afner join our Academy. He’s an exciting profile who has shown real growth over the last couple of seasons, having developed well during this time in both Portugal and Spain.
“We’re committed to adding talented young players who can grow with us. We’re excited to work with him in our development programme.”
Newcastle United Academy Director, Steve Harper, added: “Afner is another good example of the excellent work our recruitment team continues to do in identifying young players who have the potential to thrive here. We’ve built a clear pathway here for players to grow, and Afner joins a group who are hungry to develop and push themselves.
“He’s had valuable experiences in Portugal and Spain, and now he’ll have the opportunity to continue that progression within our Academy environment. We’re looking forward to helping him settle, supporting his development, and seeing how he takes to the challenge.”
Newcastle have a host of talented young forwards in their U21 set-upNewcastle United Under-21s lead coach Robbie Stockdale has admitted young winger Trevan Sanusi has ‘a big season’ lying ahead of him after returning from an underwhelming loan spell.The former Birmingham City prospect trained with the Magpies first-team during the summer of 2024 and made his senior debut when he came off the bench during an FA Cup third round win against Bromley just months later....
Newcastle United Under-21s lead coach Robbie Stockdale has admitted young winger Trevan Sanusi has ‘a big season’ lying ahead of him after returning from an underwhelming loan spell.
The former Birmingham City prospect trained with the Magpies first-team during the summer of 2024 and made his senior debut when he came off the bench during an FA Cup third round win against Bromley just months later.
Sanusi took the next step in his development by making a loan move to French club Lorient last summer - but injuries limited him to just two senior appearances for the Ligue 1 outfit. There was a positive moment for Sanusi as he netted his first senior goal in a Coupe de France win against minnows AS Gosier - but a five appearances as an unused substitute were the closest he came to making his league debut.
Despite that disappointment, the England Under-18 international has been in high spirits since returning to Tyneside and caught the eye for Stockdale’s side during their opening pre-season friendly with Spennymoor Town after featuring in a first-team friendly with Gateshead just days earlier.
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Stockdale’s Under-21s are currently preparing for a behind closed doors friendly with Scottish club St Mirren on Wednesday - and it remains to be seen whether Sanusi will feature in that fixture or will be involved with the Magpies senior squad that face Everton at Murrayfield later that day.
The Magpies academy coach insisted Sanusi can take positives from his loan spell with Lorient and revealed he has noticed a difference in the levels of maturity shown by the winger as he awaits the next step in a promising career.
He told Chronicle Live: “He was out on loan last year and it probably didn’t go ideally for him - but he will have learnt from it and he will know what it looks like. I’ve noticed a little bit of difference in his maturity and stuff like that so that’s great.
“No matter how the loan goes, you take some positives from it. Yes, it’s a big season for Tre. I don’t expect him to be with me - so hopefully he is with our first team or somebody else’s.”
One of the players that could benefit from Sanusi working under new first-team head coach Matthias Jaissle or securing another loan move away from Tyneside is Alfie Seldon. The 16-year-old winger appeared for the Magpies Under-19s in UEFA Youth League ties with Benfica, Athletic Bilbao and Marseille last season and was a regular for the club’s Under-18s throughout the campaign.
Seldon grabbed his first Under-21s goal in the recent pre-season friendly draw with Spennymoor as Stockdale’s side shared six goals in an entertaining affair with the National League North club. The Magpies academy coach praised the youngster and fellow wing prospect Michael Mills and believes both will be ready to seize any opportunity presented to them by Sanusi taking the next step in his career.
He said: “He’s a really good player and there’s some real competition in wide positions which pushes everybody on. Michael Mills has done well too. It’s football, somebody is always after your place and I remind players of that all of the time.
"They [players like Sanusi] are always looking up, can they get into that senior environment? Can they get into the first-team? But they have to look at what’s coming up behind them because they want their place and that’s the business.”
One player that has been added to Stockdale’s ranks this summer is Guinea-Bissau born striker Afner Ca after he penned a five-year deal with the Magpies following his departure from Spanish club Levante last month.
The 19-year-old made his first appearance for the Magpies Under-21s when he came on as a substitute at Spennymoor and missed a golden opportunity to mark his bow with a goal as he fired high and wide from around 12 yards after cutting in on his left foot. Despite that miss, Stockdale has seen enough from the forward to suggest he can become ‘a really good find’ for the Magpies and believes he can become a threat in the final third throughout the new season.
He said: “It’s really, really early days - but what I’ve seen from him is different to the other forwards we have got. I think he will be a really physical threat at the top end of the pitch. He will be disappointed with the chance he missed but if we can tidy his technique up in situations like that, I think he can be a really good find for us.”
Meanwhile, the Magpies Under-21s will kick off their Premier League 2 season with a home game against Tottenham Hotspur on Monday, August 24 before hosting Fulham at Whitley Park seven days later.
916-266-6453
