Under-21s confirmed for National League Cup and Premier League International Cup | OneFootball

The National League Cup was revived last season and handed opportunities for young players from Premier League and EFL clubs to test themselves against senior opposition from the National League.

Newcastle's youngsters finished in top spot of Group C last term, facing the likes of FC Halifax Town, Tamworth, Boston United and Gateshead before exiting the competition at the quarter-final stage against Altrincham via penalties after a 3-3 draw.

United's second-string, like last season, will complete all of their National League Cup group fixtures away from home.

The young Magpies will also play in the Premier League International Cup for the first time since 2019/20, competing alongside 15 other Premier League sides against some of Europe’s most prestigious academies on UK soil.

In 2017/18, Newcastle reached the semi-finals of the competition after finishing in second place of a group involving Liverpool, Sparta Prague and PSV Eindhoven before, despite beating Sunderland in the quarter-finals via penalties at the Stadium of Light, suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat against eventual winners FC Porto in the semi-final stage at St. James' Park.