Newcastle United’s U21s bounced back from a weekend defeat with a big win at Gateshead last night, helping them qualify for the quarter-finals of the National League Cup as Group C winners.

Our young Mags have been coming on nicely under new boss Diarmuid O’Carroll, recently recording wins over Chelsea and Leeds before falling to a 4-2 loss at Southampton.

However, sat 7th out of 26 clubs in the Premier League 2, above the likes of Arsenal and Sunderland, the lads recorded a 4-2 win at north east neighbours Gateshead on Tuesday night.

Kuol shines, Harrison scores and goalkeeping howler

Newcastle Under-21s: Taylor, Shahar, Charlton (R. Powell 84), Bailey, Heffernan, C. Thompson, Kuol, Munda (Stanton 71), Donaldson (Neave 63), Alfie Harrison (Finneran 84), Emerson (Palmer 63)

Kuol reacts to 4-2 win

Kuol probably needs another loan move – hopefully this time the right one – to help his development at senior level, but it’s good to see the former A-League star fit again and impressing.

Speaking to the club’s official site after the win, he said: “I thought the boys played well and it’s a reflection of the hard work the lads put in for weeks. We need to keep building and, hopefully, keep winning in this competition.

“I feel I could’ve scored more tonight but I just want to keep working and training hard. Hopefully, more chances will come and I find that consistency of hitting the back of the net.

“It feels very good to be training consistently and I feel this has been a very important period for me, physically developing.

“As an attacking player, you’re wanting to be scoring or assisting in matches to help the team and, ultimately, that’s my goal. I want to help the team as much as possible and keep finding confidence in front of goal.”