Busy Fortnight Holds No Fear For Beardsley

United return to Premier League 2 Division Two action at Fulham on Monday night, ten days on from their 4-1 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Back-to-back home fixtures against fellow North East opposition quickly follow, with Hartlepool United and Middlesbrough both visiting Tyneside - the former in the Central League Cup.

Attention will then turn to a third competition - the Premier League Cup - as Beardsley takes his side to Bristol City on November 4th.

However, having had a full week to reflect on the Magpies' Molineux reverse, United's football development manager has called on his charges to show their worth during a challenging period.

"When you lose a game, you want to play another one the very next day," he told nufc.co.uk. "It can be frustrating, but now, we have a two-week run where we're playing Monday, Friday, Monday, Friday.

"It'll be a good test for us. At first team level, they're used to doing that week-in, week-out, but it isn't something we normally do.

"It'll be interesting to see how they react, and it might be an opportunity for one or two who haven't been playing lately to join in."

Much like the young Magpies, opponents Fulham have struggled for consistency so far this season.

The Cottagers were beaten 2-0 at Swansea City on Monday night, having won three of their last four in all competitions prior.

Beardsley is hopeful his side can rediscover their attacking mojo at Motspur Park, already their sixth assignment on the road this term.

"We had plenty of the ball against Wolves last week, but the disappointing thing was that we never really looked like scoring," he said. "We played some nice football - as we always do - but we didn't work their goalkeeper as much as we should have.

"We've come up against Fulham before. They are well-organised and they play good football.

"If you look at how their first-team played (against Newcastle) on the opening day of the season, they are very much in your face and they play high-tempo football.

"It'll be a good test for us, and we always enjoy going to London. We'll get the train down on Monday morning and come back on the train the next day."

Ahead of the weekend, Beardsley remains unsure as to whether Callum Roberts will figure against the Cottagers - the winger having been stretchered off at Molineux last week.

"At the moment, the honest answer is that I couldn't tell you whether Callum will be fit," he explained. "Callum says it is getting better, but whether he will be well enough for Monday remains to be seen.

"Hopefully he'll be fit, but if he isn't, it's an opportunity for someone else to come in."