Progress in trophy would be knockout for Magpies
TOON UNDER-23S HOPING TO BREAK NEW GROUND WITH WIN OVER MARINERS
NEWCASTLE United’s second string are in good spirits as they head to Grimsby Town’s Blundell Park looking to book their place in the last 32 of the Checkatrade Trophy.
After wins over Doncaster Rovers and Notts County they could progress from the group stages for the first time in the club’s history in only their second season in the competition.
The chance of a Wembley final remains a possibility – but there’s a long way to go.
Indeed, while Ben Dawson’s side are churning out results this season, they face a Grimsby side that come into this game on the back of a big result in the
FA Cup after their weekend triumph over
MK Dons.
They will also be rubbing their hands at facing Newcastle
United – even if it is a Checkatrade game. However, the Mariners have also lost 12 games already this season and have conceded 23 goals in their 17 League Two games this season already.
United will be taking nothing for granted but have shown great character in the majority of their games this season, not least on Friday night amid a rain storm at Southampton where they battled hard to score a last-minute equaliser through Elias Sorensen to earn a 1-1 draw in the Premier League Cup group stages.
Sorensen has grabbed the headlines this season with his 14 goals – two of them coming in the Checkatrade – but there have been many other success stories for Dawson’s side. Nathan Harker has been outstanding between the posts, Kell Watts has been impressive at the heart of defence, skipper Owen Bailey has driven them on from midfield and Sean and Matty Longstaff have really stamped their authority on both the Checkatrade Trophy and Pre-
I think it’s always a good barometer for them to test themselves against some seasoned pros Ben Dawson
mier League 2 this term.
It could be argued that Sean Longstaff is a class above playing reserve team football these days after playing regularly for Blackpool in League One this season and earning a first-team squad place at United.
But the Checkatrade has been the big stage for him at times and he has impressed watching scouts, with another round of loan bids expected in January when Newcastle have a big decision to make on the former North Shields Athletic Junior. Cal Roberts also looks ready to go out on loan again, with the winger impressing for the second string. But every player will need to step things up against the League Two side in their final Checkatrade group game – especially as Grimsby are in the mood for more cup glory. Grimsby boss Michael Jolley is looking forward to welcoming Newcastle and feels his side are now on the up again after their FA Cup win.
He said: “It’s been a tough period for the team.
“We had that awful run and then bounced out of it, and then we’ve had another poor run with the three away games that we’ve had.
“We feel that we’re starting to turn our form around here at Blundell Park.”
Dawson has consistently said the Checkatrade is a real chance to gauge his own side’s ability. He said: “I think it’s always a good barometer for them to test themselves against some seasoned pros.
“A lot of these lads have played at the top level and they’re dropping down the leagues, or they’ve played at that level for 400 or 500 games.”
If Newcastle’s team bus pulls out of Blundell Park with United in the knockout stages it will be a real sign of progress after bowing out at the group stages on the back of a 4-1 hiding at Oldham last term.