Under-21s preview | McArthur bidding to beat Blues | OneFootball

The young Magpies welcome their Blues counterparts to Whitley Park after kicking off their league campaign with a narrow 2-1 defeat against Southampton on Sunday afternoon.

McArthur, who joined United in the summer of 2022 from hometown club Kilmarnock, is keen for the squad to make amends for their loss against the Saints and replicate a similar result to last season's meeting with the Blues, with the defender scoring the eventual winner in a 3-2 win in December.

The 20-year-old, a representative of Scotland at under-21 level, told newcastleunited.com: "As always, everyone is looking forward to the next game, especially after a harsh defeat against Southampton which I believed the lads deserved more from.

"I thought the boys played well and we had many chances to win the game but it just wasn't our day. These things happen sometimes so I think we'll be aiming to put that right on Friday.

"I always believe that every team you come up against, you're capable of beating them and we showed Chelsea on that night that we were a very good side. Our aim is to do that again and perform the same. Hopefully, I can get on the scoresheet again.

"Everyone is looking forward to Friday's game and trying to get three points to make our start in the league."

One of the more senior peers in United's second-string squad, McArthur believes he can provide experience amongst the young squad following his loan spell at Carlisle United for the second-half of the previous campaign.

A senior debut for Kilmarnock at the age of 16 in October 2021, the centre-back believed the stint at Brunton Park, despite suffering relegation to the National League, proved a beneficial one in gaining senior experience on and off the pitch.

"I've always been around first-teams from when I was growing up to coming here and I managed to go out to Carlisle at the back end of last season," he added. "I can give my experience out to the young lads and keep helping them along the way.

"I thought the loan benefited me massively, playing mens' football. I managed to play the first ten games in a position I wasn't too familiar with but it was good exposure and a real eye opener for what it's like to play in the Football League.

"Although we didn't finish where we wanted, it was a great experience. I was moving away from a city I've been familiar with for the past three years. It was moving and staying with different lads whilst going into a new dressing room and I took tons away from that. The boys were also excellent which made it a whole lot easier."

Admission for Newcastle United Under-21s' Premier League 2 visit of Chelsea on Friday, 22nd August is free for season ticket holders, otherwise it's £3 for adults and £1 concessions.

The game will also be streamed live and exclusive on the Official Newcastle United App.