By Dan King - Newcastle United Club Reporter

Alan Pardew showed that his passion for Newcastle doesn't just extend to first-team affairs when he delayed his arrival in Portugal so that he could watch the club's youngsters in the Milk Cup final on Thursday night.

And although Dave Watson's side were beaten by Desportivo Brazil at the Ballymoney Showgrounds, the Magpies manager was pleased to see the club's net generation miing it with some of the best youth sides in the world.

The likes of David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney, Sergio Busquets, Joe Cole and Paul Scholes have all played in the annual tournament in Northern Ireland over the years, and this summer's 30th anniversary event featured sides from as far afield as Portugal, Senegal, Russia, Mexico.

But the young Magpies reached the Premier section final by scoring 15 goals and conceding just once in four games, and Pardew was determined to lend his support from the stands.

"They were brilliant," he told nufcTV. "Young Adam Campbell winning the player of the tournament was a real coup for us and for him personally, so we're very, very pleased with that.

"I thought they did particularly well to get to the final. They got to the final in style but in the final they came up against a very good side.

"Three-nil flattered the opposition actually, but I thought they gave a great account for Newcastle and we made some friends over there, and that's always nice to do."

Pardew arrived in Portugal on Friday morning and saw his senior side draw 1-1 with Olympiakos that evening. Now he's focusing on Saturday night's friendly against SC Braga, which kicks off at 8.45pm at the Estadio Algarve.

Photograph courtesy of Russell Pritchard - www.russellpritchardblog.com