Thompson bidding to beat Blues

Newcastle's youngsters face their Blues counterparts at Whitley Park targeting a positive result in order to maintain their play-off push, with the young Magpies currently situated seven points adrift of the top 16 plces with eight league matches remaining in the 2023/24 campaign.

Thompson, who joined United's youth set-up at the age of 13, is keen for United's youngsters to build on Monday's 2-2 draw against their Wolverhampton Wanderers counterparts, netting in the dying stages to salvage a point in Worcestershire.

The Blyth-born teenager told nufc.co.uk: "It's always a big game against Chelsea, a good team with good players but everyone is really up for the challenge on Friday night.

"I thought we played really well against Wolves on Monday. Both of the teams had a few chances but it's about making sure we turn draws and good performances into wins as well.

"I think scoring in the last minute epitomises what the group is about, not giving up and being really resilient which you saw at the end of that game, managing to pick up a draw.

"The performances have been there but it's about picking up wins. We have a couple of games in hand over teams around us so a couple of wins can change our position and in the table and hopefully we can get into the play-off spots at the end of the season."

Since signing his first professional contract with his boyhood club last summer, Thompson has started in United's last four Premier League 2 fixtures as well as competing in the young Magpies' 2023/24 UEFA Youth League campaign in a star-studded group involving AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund.

The 19-year-old defender, capable of playing as a full-back as well as central defence, has relished his first full season at second-string level and is keen to support a handful of scholars who are bidding to follow a familiar path to the versatile youngster.

"It's been a challenging season for myself, both in the Premier League 2 and the UEFA Youth League," he added. "This season, there is a lot of teams in the league with a lot of talent in it. 

"You always want to play against the best players and I'm certainly enjoying the challenge. When you do, a different level comes out in you and you perform better knowing you're against more older and experienced players.

"That has helped me to develop further both on and off the pitch. It's really important to take the experiences on board and since we have a younger squad than usual, I can pass them onto the younger lads to help them out.

"I enjoy responsibility because when I was younger, I liked it when older players told me about their experiences or how they can help me in certain things and I'd like to do that with those currently in the squad." 

Admission for Newcastle United Under-21s' Premier League 2 visit of Chelsea on Friday, 8th March is free for season ticket holders, otherwise it's £3 for adults and £1 concessions.