Newcastle United Under-21s 7 Reading Under-21s 1 | OneFootball

Garang Kuol's curling strike fired the young Magpies into an early lead at St. James' Park before Alfie Harrison doubled the hosts' advantage in front of the Gallowgate End towards the latter stages of the first half.

Basil Tuma halved the deficit shortly after the restart for the Royals before Leo Shahar, named on the bench for United's 2-1 win against Brentford last week, regained Newcastle's two-goal cushion with his first goal at under-21 level before Jay Turner-Cooke's penalty, accompanied with late strikes from Johnny Emerson, Kuol and Joe Brayson, secured a fourth league win in a row.

Diarmuid O'Carroll made two changes from the side which claimed a 3-2 away win against Nottingham Forest as Gateshead-born striker Josh Donaldson replaced Sean Neave, who was named on the bench for the Magpies' Premier League trip to Leicester City, while Alfie Harrison was named in the starting line-up in place of Johnny Emerson.

Newcastle's second-string went close to breaking the deadlock in the opening stages as Kuol, who represented Australia at the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar, raced clear on goal but was unable to round Reading goalkeeper Coniah Boyce-Clarke, who managed to claw the ball out for a corner.

In the 12th minute, though, Kuol netted his seventh goal of the 2024/25 campaign at under-21 level. After controlling Anthony Munda's pass, the highly-rated youngster rifled an unstoppable drive into the top right-hand corner.

Reading went close to equalising through Tyler Sackey as the Royals forward's powerful drive inside the box was deflected by Magpies skipper Cathal Heffernan before striking the side-netting.

Alfie Harrison netted his third goal in his last four matches at second-string level in the 38th minute as the Keighley-born teenager, who joined the Magpies from Manchester City in February 2024, controlled Shahar's pass before drilling a fierce effort into the roof of the net.

Newcastle's hopes of a clean sheet were distinguished was halved in the 50th minute as Tuma pulled a goal back after exchanging passes with Sackey before slotting a low effort into the bottom right-hand corner.

United's youngsters responded in strong fashion though as Shahar, who has captained England at under-18 level, netted his first goal for the club at second-string level, completing a short corner and after evading the challenge of Jacob Borgnis, curled a delightful strike into the right-hand corner of the net.

Newcastle added a fourth in the 65h minute as Turner-Cooke netted from the penalty spot. After Kuol was fouled inside the box, Turner-Cooke dispatched the resulting spot-kick with ease after, sending Boyce-Clarke the wrong way in the process.

Emerson, introduced from the substitutes' bench, grabbed Newcastle's fifth goal of the night in the 79th minute as the Carlisle-born winger controlled Harrison's pass inside the box and after producing a neat spin, placed a low effort into the net.

Kuol grabbed his brace four minutes later as the 20-year-old forward latched onto Emerson's delightful dinked pass into the box before unleashing a powerful volley into the net.

Brayson rounded off the scoring in the 90th minute as the Magpies substitute, son of former Magpies striker Paul, was on hand at the back post to place the ball home from Kuol's inviting low pass into the penalty area.

Newcastle United Under-21s: Aidan Harris, Leo Shahar, Cathal Heffernan (c), Ciaran Thompson, Dylan Charlton (Rory Powell 83), Rory Finneran (Scott Bailey 74), Anthony Munda, Alfie Harrison, Garang Kuol, Jay Turner-Cooke (Johnny Emerson 70), Josh Donaldson (Joe Brayson 70).

Subs not used: James Taylor.