The young Magpies trailed inside eight minutes at Whitley Park following Mateo Joseph's close-range tap-in before drawing level through Ben Parkinson's emphatic finish, the 17-year-old striker's first goal at under-21 level.

Newcastle, however, fell behind within a minute of equalising as Charlie Allen netted for the Whites, making sure Sean McGurk's goal bound shot crossed the line before the hosts levelled the Division Two encounter in the closing stages following Connor Ferguson's own goal.

Newcastle were reduced to ten men in the latter stages as Remi Savage was shown a red card for a last man foul on the edge of the box but United's youngsters held firm to record a point.

Ben Dawson made three changes from the side which suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat against Sunderland's second-string a fortnight ago as goalkeeper Max Thompson, a representative of England at under-18 level, replaced Jude Smith in-between the sticks.

Peruvian midfielder Rodrigo Vilca, who returned to the Magpies last month after a loan spell with Universitario de Deportes in his native country, was handed a first start of the 2022/23 campaign at under-21 level while Reading-born defender Charlie Wiggett replaced Harry Barclay at the heart of defence.

Thompson, who was named on the Magpies' first-team bench for pre-season fixtures against York City and Doncaster Rovers during the 2021/22 campaign, was forced into action in the opening minutes of the Division Two clash, pushing away Jeremiah Mullen's close-range header following Sam Greenwood's inviting corner.

Newcastle fell behind in the 8th minute as McGurk pounced onto Jordan Hackett's heavy touch and, after racing towards goal, teed up Joseph inside the six-yard area who placed the ball into an empty net.

In the 36th minute, Newcastle drew level through Parkinson's excellent finish. After winning the ball in the final third of Leeds' half, the Durham-born forward advanced forward before unleashing a fierce effort which flew into the roof of the net.

Newcastle's youngsters, though, were dealt an immediate blow as Leeds restored their one-goal cushion through Allen. After McGurk burst dangerously into the box, the left winger's shot, destined for the bottom right-hand corner, was turned into the net by Allen despite McGurk claiming the effort as his own.

In the second-half, Parkinson attempted to net his and United's second goal of the evening as the teenage forward raced onto Lewis Miley's pass before his attempt from the edge of the box was held by Leeds goalkeeper Dani van den Heuvel.

Thompson produced an important save to prevent Newcastle falling further behind, with the 18-year-old goalkeeper, who joined United's Academy at the age of 11, denying McGurk with a strong hand before Darko Gyabi's follow up deflected over the crossbar.

Wiggett, who joined Newcastle's youth set-up from Chelsea in the summer of 2021, produced a heroic goal line clearance to deny Cian Coleman from doubling the visitors' advantage after Thompson's pass was intercepted by the Leeds substitute, but his resulting drive at goal was vitally cleared by the alert centre-back.

In the 84th minute, Newcastle drew level once again as Amadou Diallo and Matt Bondswell combined neatly on the left wing before the latter's low cross was turned into the net by Ferguson.

Savage, making his first appearance at under-21 level since September following a long-term injury, was sent off in the final minutes as the substitute looked to have brought down Luca Thomas on the edge of the box but the resulting free-kick was terrifically saved by Thompson, pushing the effort away from goal.

Despite the disadvantage, Michael Ndiweni almost sent Newcastle ahead in stoppage-time after collecting Diallo's pass following a dangerous counter-attack but the Throckley-born striker's effort was blocked by van den Heuvel.

Thompson preserved United's point in the dying stages, standing tall before brilliantly blocking Thomas' drive at goal after the Leeds substitute had beaten the offside trap.

Newcastle United Under-21s: Max Thompson, Nathan Carlyon, Charlie Wiggett, Jordan Hackett (Remi Savage 59), Matt Bondswell (c), Jamie Miley, Lewis Miley, James Huntley, Amadou Diallo, Rodrigo Vilca (Michael Ndiweni 59), Ben Parkinson (Johnny Emerson 81).

Subs not used: Jude Smith, Ciaran Thompson.