There was a first U21 squad selection for 16 year-old goalkeeper Oliver Holland, also named as an unused substitute for the U18s this season without debuting at that level.

Newcastle's U21 side slipped to their first defeat in five PL2 games on Monday, as league leaders Manchester City confirmed top spot ahead of the season-ending playoff series of fixtures. 

United debuted at City's purpose-built development stadium with a top 16 place already assured, needing victory to stand any chance of a top eight finish and home advantage in the playoffs.

However those hopes began to dwindle after just six minutes, when Ashton Muir's cross from the City left struck visiting defender Cathal Heffernan and flew past Magpies goalkeeper Adam Harrison.

There was almost an instant equaliser when Sean Neave was through on goal but after the nudging the ball past the onrushing Spike Brits it was cleared off the line by Jamal Simpson-Pusey.

City doubled their lead after 15 minutes when Justin Oboavwodou, who Harrison had already been twice denied, turned on the edge of the box and fired in.

A third followed in the 29th minute when a simple ball from Jaden Heskey found Divin Mubama who ran unchallenged towards goal and clipped home.

Five minutes after the interval Garang Kuol had a great chance for United, but screwed his first time shot from the corner of the six yard area past the far post.

A rerun of City's third goal on 56 minutes from closer in then made it 0-4; Heskey finding Mubama on the edge of the box and the striker supplying a similar finish.

Ryan McAidoo hit the bar two minutes later as the home side piled on the pressure, but with the job done the hosts eased off and made a trio of replacements.

Newcastle enjoyed their best moments of the game in the latter part of the second period but were unable to claim a consolation goal - an amazing passage of play on 71 minutes seeing a trio of goalbound efforts from Kuol, Anthony Munda and Neave all blocked.

City must wait until the final games of the season on Friday to learn their opponents, with several teams still in with a chance of finishing in 16th place.

A finishing position of ninth for Newcastle though won't change, with the structured draw meaning that they will travel to the eighth-placed team. 

That will be Arsenal, with the game set to take place over the weekend of April 26th. That's a repeat of the PL2 game played in February, when the Gunners ran out 4-1 winners at Boreham Wood's Meadow Park - which is where the playoff game will also be staged.

The playoffs then continue on or around successive weekends until the final two teams meet to contest the playoff final trophy - a trophy currently held by Spurs, who also finished top of PL2 in 2023/24, which was the first season that this format had been implemented.

Playoff ties must be concluded at the first time of asking, via extra time and penalties if required. 

Biffa