The Magpies went ahead early on at Little Benton, with Michael Mills combining well with Sean Neave - who received a call-up to the England Under-18 side this week - before finding the target with a low shot on 12 minutes to register his first goal at under-18 level.

Jaydon Jones' close-range leveller saw the Black Cats fight back within two minutes, but just before the halfway point in the first half Mills put the Magpies back in front with his second of the day, which owed much to Joe Brayson's work and assist in the build-up.

And it got better for the hosts before the break, when Brayson fired home to make it 3-1 after Neave had freed him with a neat pass, giving United a two-goal advantage at half time.

But Sunderland recovered after the restart, with Fin Geragusian pulling one back before Liam Hunt converted a cross from Joe Neild to peg the Magpies back.

The point - United's eighth of the campaign - leaves the Magpies in tenth spot in the Under-18 Premier League table.

Newcastle United Under-18s: Will Anderson (Adam Harrison 86), Henry Johnson, Noah Morgan (Jude Cogdon 86), Logan Watts, Luke Craggs, Rory Finneran, Trevan Sanusi (Matheos Ferreira 72), Sam Alabi (Alex O'Donovan 86), Joe Brayson, Sean Neave, Michael Mills (Fraser Harper 62).

Subs not used: N/A.