The striker scored in last night’s 2-2 Wear-Tyne reserves derby against Sunderland at the Stadium of Shite. But ... Ranger, who is under contract at Newcastle until 2016, wasn’t allowed to speak to the local media after the game.
Reserve team coach Willie Donachie: “Nile’s pace and power always caused them problems.
“It’s great for him, and great for the club. He just needs to keep working hard and get stronger.
"We were frustrated to concede an equaliser so late in the game.
“It was a shame.
“I thought it was a really good performance considering we had Nile up front who couldn’t play the whole game, and Lubo (Lubomir Satka) dropped out 15 minutes before the start.
“It was a big reshuffle with Yven (Moyo) going into midfield and Connor (Newton) playing at the back.
“Considering all that it was a really good performance. It was just frustrating to lose a goal so late.
“A win would have put us in with a great chance of going into the top three (of the Professional Development League), which has always been our aim.
“I thought Curtis (Good) was outstanding, and Brad did really well. They all did well and gave everything they had – that’s all we ask.
“They were motivated by the ground and the fans.
“I thought we played well. In the first half, we were the better team.
“Mehdi (Abeid) and Marcus (Maddison) had great chances, JJ (Hooper) as well. We had some great situations. It’s all ifs and buts, but it was still a good performance.”
NEWCASTLE UNITED: Alnwick; Riley, Good, Newton, Logan; Hooper, Abeid, Inman, Maddison (Miele, 68); Moyo, Ranger (Knight, 58).