Dave Watson's side finished ninth in the 12-team Under-18 Premier League North table, meaning they have been drawn in Group C for the end-of-season play-off phase alongside the teams placed ninth, tenth, 11th and 12th in both the North and South divisions.

The new eight-team group will see the Magpies youngsters face West Brom, Sunderland, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Southampton, Brighton & Hove Albion, Swansea City and Leicester City. Each team will play each other only once.

United will play four home games and three away games in the group, starting with a game against local rivals Sunderland - who the Magpies beat 4-3 in the FA Youth Cup back in January - at the Little Benton Academy on Saturday (kick-off 11am).

Kick-off times for the remaining seven fixtures will be confirmed in due course.

Newcastle United Under-18s Group C fixtures

Saturday, 11th March

Newcastle United Under-18s v Sunderland Under-18s

Saturday, 18th March

West Bromwich Albion Under-18s v Newcastle United Under-18s

Saturday, 1st April

Southampton Under-18s v Newcastle United Under-18s

Saturday, 8th April

Newcastle United Under-18s v Brighton & Hove Albion Under-18s

Saturday, 22nd April

Newcastle United Under-18s v Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-18s

Saturday, 29th April

Leicester City Under-18s v Newcastle United Under-18s

Saturday, 13th May

Newcastle United Under-18s v Swansea City Under-18s