Liam Gillesphey is a tough-tackling midfielder who joined the Ebac Northern League second division side following a scholarship in the United States.

A place in the semi-finals of the competition is at stake and 22-year-old Macaulay, who was born in Ashington, told nufc.co.uk: "I'm looking forward to it - there are quite a few people I know who play for them as well as my brother, so it should be an entertaining game.

"He plays centre midfield or centre back, but he's a bit heavier than me! He doesn't really move much but he's a good player.

"We didn't play in the same teams as kids but we used to play together in the street and things like that so it'd be good to play against him on Thursday."

Blyth - nicknamed the Braves - are currently second in their division and have won five of their last six games, drawing the other.

And Gillesphey, who was part of the Newcastle squad which last lifted the Northumberland Senior Cup in 2014, warned: "Any game can be tough.

"They'll be up for it but I'm looking forward to it."

Admission at Whitley Park in Benton is £4 for adults and £2 concessions. Season ticket holders and members do not gain free admission for ties in this competition.