Newcastle under-23s have made a poor start to the season, under the new guidance of Neil Redfearn, who took over from Ben Dawson, in the summer overhaul of the academy.
They lost their opening three Premier League 2 games, including being thumped 6-0 and 4-0 against Reading and Manchester United respectively.
They did, however, pick up their first league win of the season in their last PL2 outing at Fulham, before the under-21 variety of youth team, lost their opening EFL Trophy game at Macclesfield Town 2-1.
Redfearn will hope that the win against Fulham will kick-start their season, and he today found out who their opponents will be in the group phase of the U23 Premier League Cup.
Newcastle will hope to go one step further than last season
The Magpies finished runners-up in the competition last season, losing the final 1-0 to Everton at the Toffees’ home ground, Goodison Park.
They will be hoping to go all the way this year, and the draw has put them in Group C, alongside West Bromwich Albion, Hull City, and either Scunthorpe or Southend – who have to play off next week for the final group spot.
The early stages see eight groups of four playing each other, with the top two from each going through to the knock-out stages.
But after the opening few games of the league season at second-string level, it seems a huge ask for them to repeat their feats of last season.
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