Nolan ready to take on old club

NOTTS County manager Kevin Nolan is relishing the opportunity to take on former club Newcastle United in the Checkatrade Trophy group stages this season.

Newcastle’s Under-21 side will go head to head with the EFL’s other Magpies after being drawn in Group G, alongside Doncaster Rovers and Grimsby Town too.

During two-and-a-half seasons on Tyneside between 2009 and 2011, Nolan scored 30 goals in 91 appearances and captained the Magpies to promotion as Championship winners – as well as a memorable 5-1 victory over Sunderland, during which he netted a hat-trick.

But the 36-year-old is now player-manager at Meadow Lane, and his County side narrowly missed out on promotion last season – losing in the League Two play-offs after finishing fifth in the division.

Achieving promotion this term is Notts’ primary aim for the new campaign, but Nolan is also looking forward to seeing his squad test themselves against Newcastle’s development side – and he hopes plenty of United fans make the trip down to Meadow Lane too.

“It is great to see them coming down here,” Nolan told Nottinghamshire Live after Newcastle were drawn in Notts’ group.

“It will be fantastic for their lads and good exposure for them. It will be a tough one for us but I am sure I will see a few old friends.

“Hopefully the Toon will bring a few [fans] because I know how fantastic they are in supporting their club. I am hoping we will get a few on the gate and a decent atmosphere.

“That’s probably the only thing that lets the competition down; the numbers who come to watch the games. It feels like a nothing game – but, with the squad we have, it will be really good exposure for the young lads and test themselves against a real, quality academy side.”

This will be Newcastle’s second year entering a development side in the Checkatrade Trophy, having been knocked out at the pool stage last season.

Intriguingly, Newcastle Under-21s and Sunderland could still face one another in a ‘mini Tyne-Wear derby’ if both teams progress out of the group stages – but, even then, it requires the pair to be drawn together in the knockout rounds.

Dates for Newcastle’s three group games will be confirmed.