Barnsley have today signed Newcastle United bad boy Nile Ranger on loan until the 14th January 2012 to try and improve their goal-scoring record.
The 20-year-old former England Under 19 international rose through the ranks at St James’ Park after failing to make the grade at Crystal Palace and Southampton, making his first team debut during the club’s one season in the Championship in 2009-2010.
Ranger has though been hitting the headlines for matters off the field in recent weeks and in late August was arrested on suspicion of assault in Newcastle city centre. Then in October, Ranger, who has scored twice in 49 appearances for the Toon, was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Newcastle Cathedral Square.
This, coupled with the fact he also served 11 weeks in a young offenders institution after his part in an armed robbery whilst a youngster with Southampton means Reds boss Keith Hill is taking something of a risk. A risk, that current Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has deemed not worth taking considering Ranger is yet to appear for United this season and only recently rejoined the first team in training after a three month exile in the reserves.
The move to Oakwell is likely to have been engineered to keep him away from the bright lights of Newcastle, although he is currently banned from entering the city centre at night.
Source: FOOTYMAD
