United welcome Fulham to Whitley Park on Monday (1pm kick-off) before they round off the league season with a trip to the Riverside Stadium to take on Middlesbrough a week on Friday.

Beardsley’s youngsters currently sit fourth in the table, just a point behind Wolverhampton Wanderers and two behind second-placed Fulham, while West Ham United and Aston Villa are hot on their heels.

And the Newcastle legend wants his team to rise to the challenge of making their final two games count as they bid to keep their promotion hopes alive.

“We’ve got two games left, and if we win one of them, we should make the play-offs,” Beardsley told nufc.co.uk.

“Reading (in the Premier League Cup last week) was a big game, but every game is a big game now. Looking at the next two, hopefully we've got Fulham and then we’ve still got the Middlesbrough game to go for, so every game’s a big game.

“That’s why we play football, and you want to play in the best games.”

He added: “The great thing is, even up to the last game, there’s something on it. Even in the Middesbrough game, we’d still have something to focus on.

“In that sense it’s really good, really positive and who knows - if we’re able to get in the play-offs, anything could happen.”

Entry to Monday’s clash with the Cottagers at Whitley Park is free to season ticket holders and members, while tickets are also available at the turnstiles priced at £3 for adults and £1 for concessions.