A "Massive" Monday For Armstrong

By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor

He's only just turned 18, but Adam Armstrong has played at Old Trafford, the Emirates, White Hart Lane and the Etihad Stadium for Newcastle's first-team this season and played in a Barclays Premier League Tyne-Wear derby.

So when he describes Monday night's FA Youth Cup quarter-final against Chelsea as "massive", it proves just how much the game will mean to the players who run out at St. James' Park next week.

Admission for the 7.05pm kick-off is free to all as United look to keep alive their hopes of winning the competition for the first time in 30 years, when Paul Gascoigne inspired the Magpies to lift the trophy after a two-legged final win over Watford in 1985.

Chelsea are the current holders and beat Newcastle 3-2 after extra time at the same stage last year. Armstrong scored in that game while Rolando Aarons shone in front of a 2,506 crowd, but an even bigger attendance is anticipated on Monday.

"The youth cup's a massive tournament and all the lads love it," Armstrong told nufcTV.

"When we played last year, it was a massive buzz and now we've got Chelsea again so we'll see what happens."

United beat Sunderland on penalties in the fifth round having beaten Middlesbrough and Millwall along the way.

The Blues, meanwhile, were made to work hard against Leeds in the third round, winning 2-0, before hitting both Huddersfield and Swansea for six.

But England under-18 international Armstrong - who was captain in the last round at the Stadium of Light - insisted: "On the day, anything can happen.

"We played Chelsea last year and gave it a right good go. They came out better on the day with the quality they had, but we'll go in strong for it."

Admission at St. James' Park on Monday night is FREE to all supporters via the East Stand turnstiles, which will open one hour before kick-off.