---
title: "Newcastle United: Scouts watch Matt O’Riley ahead of January"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-transfer-news-oriley-premier-league/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Adam Clancy"
section: "Newcastle United News"
published: "2022-09-30T18:50:39Z"
modified: "2022-09-30T18:50:39Z"
---

# Newcastle United: Scouts watch Matt O’Riley ahead of January

**[Newcastle United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/) scouts reportedly watched Celtic central midfielder Matt O’Riley on international duty for Denmark’s U21 side ahead of the January window.**

### The Lowdown: Impressive performance

[Scouts](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/matt-oriley-draws-newcastle-scouts-25132424) from St. James’ Park watched O’Riley play for Denmark U21s in their 2-1 loss away at Croatia U21s in a qualifying match for the next Euros last Friday evening.

Despite his team’s defeat, O’Riley managed to get himself on the scoresheet, and also recorded a player-high three key passes in the game, as well as making two interceptions and one tackle ([SofaScore](https://www.sofascore.com/croatia-u21-denmark-u21/yvcsvCc)).

### The Latest: Newcastle scouts watch

As per [Football Scotland](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/matt-oriley-draws-newcastle-scouts-25132424), the Magpies are continuing to monitor O’Riley, after [reportedly](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/celtic-transfer-news-oriley-liverpool-man-utd/) weighing up a bid for him in the summer.

While there were many other clubs in attendance during his qualifying game, the North East outfit kept a close eye on him in particular, suggesting that they could make a move in January if he became available for the right price.

[Newcastle news!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/newcastle-news-7/)

### The Verdict: Midfielder needed

With the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Jonjo Shelvey suffering from [injury problems](https://www.premierinjuries.com/teams/newcastle-united) this campaign, Eddie Howe’s side could really do with an extra body in the middle of the park.

Lauded as a [‘classy’ and ‘silky’](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/celtic-michael-stewart-hails-matt-oriley-following-victory-over-st-johnstone/) footballer by Scottish football pundit Michael Stewart, O’Riley would certainly add some guile into the midfield, and at 21 years of age, his ceiling is still very high.

A [title-winner](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matt-oriley/erfolge/spieler/406634) with Celtic last term, he joined them last January from MK Dons and made an instant impact, scoring four goals and supplying two assists in 20 appearances ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matt-oriley/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/406634/plus/0?saison=2021&verein=371&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=)), and so O’Riley could make the same kind of impact again if he were to join the Toon.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”410504″\]