Former Newcastle United whizzkid Rolando Aarons handed career lifeline by Euro minnows
The former Newcastle United Academy product Rolando Aarons burst on to the scene under Alan Pardew to score a famous cup goal at Man City
Former Newcastle United winger Rolando Aarons has been handed a career lifeline with Slovenian minnows NK Celje after a stint without a club.
Aarons, who rose to first-team stardom under Alan Pardew, burst on to the scene in the 2014/15 season and hit the heights in the League Cup when scoring a famous goal to help knock Man City out of the competition in a 2-0 win. But Rolando left Newcastle in 2021 after a series of loan stints at Wycombe, Sheff Wed and Motherwell.
Newcastle winger Aarons was left with no club after being released on a free transfer by Huddersfield Town but has no hooked up with Slovenian table toppers NK Celje and is eying a place in Europe with his new side next season. Now 28, Aarons said: "I am happy that I got the opportunity to become part of Celje after a trial period.
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"The team is of high quality, I want to add everything I have to it. When I got the offer, I had to do some research, and after the first few training sessions, I realised that the scale reflects the quality.
"I also watched two matches and I think that Celje is what I need right now as the next step in my career. "I came at the right time, because the winter preparation period gives me the opportunity to make up for the lost half season when I did not play.
"I want to get back to the level I was showing before. With my performances, I want to help the club win the title and play in Europe."
Aarons was at one stage linked with Arsenal after scoring in the Premier League against Crystal Palace in summer 2014. Despite injury problems he fought back and scored for Rafa Benitez in a 5-1 thumping over Spurs before a number of loan exits to Verona, the Owls and Slovan Liberec.