By Dan King - Newcastle United Club Reporter

After two disappointing defeats, Newcastle's under-18 side are hoping for a good performance against Aston Villa on Saturday (kick-off 11am).

Dave Watson's side won the Premier Academy League Group D title last season but have only one victory - 1-0 against Stoke - so far this term and are still reeling from a 4-2 derby defeat at Sunderland and a 7-1 loss to Manchester United in their previous two outings.

However with such a young crop of players at his disposal, Watson has admitted that the deevlopment of the teenagers - many of them first-year scholars - is the priority this campaign, rather than scorelines.

He names another inexperienced squad for the match at Little Benton, with only defender Alex Kitchen and midfielder Steven Logan in the second year of their footballing education.

Goalkeepers Freddie Woodman and Sam Busby are both schoolboys, as are Kyle Cameron, Callum Roberts and Adam Armstrong, while the remaining players are all part of the summer's intake.  

Jamaican winger Rolando Aarons is still recovering from injury while big striker Tom Heardman is yet to reach full fitness and Lubo Satka isn't involved with Monday's under-21 match at Villa Park in mind.

Admission is free at United's Academy in Benton, and all are welcome.

The squad is: Freddie Woodman, Sam Busby, Macauley Booth, Ryan McKinnon, Alex Kitchen, Kyle Cameron, Macaulay Gillesphey, James Morgan, Liam Smith, Steven Logan, Jonathyn Quinn, Callum Roberts, Alex Gilliead, Adam Armstrong.