Parkinson "raring to go" ahead of Wolves trip

The young Magpies face their Wolves counterparts at the Aggborough Stadium, home of National League side Kidderminster Harriers, aiming for a positive result to retain their hopes of a top 16 spot in the 26-team division to ensure a single elimination play-off.

Currently situated eight points adrift of 16th-placed Blackburn, albeit with three games in hand, Parkinson is hopeful Newcastle's youngsters can complete an encouraging end to the 2023/24 campaign in order to achieve their objective as well as adding to his goalscoring tally at under-21 level after netting in his last two league outings against Leicester City and Liverpool respectively.

The 18-year-old, who joined United's Academy as a seven-year-old, told nufc.co.uk: "Scoring goals is what my job is a striker. When you play well, I think the goals come naturally and especially when the team are doing well and they are making the chances for you.

"Everybody is raring to go and this game has been something we've been really looking forward to, especially after the (2-1) defeat against Liverpool and wanting to put things right so the game at Wolves will be a chance to do that.

"Where we are in the league isn't where we want to be and I think all the lads would agree we haven't been where we should be this season. We've had a lot of unlucky results, last minute equalisers and last minute defeats. The team creates its own luck but I think having a consistent run of form running into the next few games will be a good thing for us and, hopefully, we can try and pick up points.

"Momentum is a big thing. When everyone plays well and is happy within their roles in the team, the team will do well."

While a number of academy graduates have experienced first-team action this term, with the likes of Joe White, Alex Murphy, Amadou Diallo and Michael Ndiweni making their Premier League bows, the teenage striker commended those making the step from under-18 to under-21 level in recent months.

Parkinson, a Premier League debutant with Newcastle after featuring against AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium in November, added: "Having the scholars coming through has been a breath of fresh air and something we've needed as a team coming into the start of the season," he added. "After January, a few players left which has allowed more opportunities for the younger lads.

"It's great for them because, when I was a scholar and got those chances to play for the under-21s, it was a dream and you have to grab those chances with both hands and make the most of them, which a lot of them have done.

"Having a few of the more experienced players who've had opportunities with the first-team or been on the bench gives a good balance for the group."