The young Magpies got off to a difficult start at Whitley Park, falling inside the opening minute after Dylan Jones' strike before Toby Chilvers' close-range finish doubled the visitors' advantage before the half-hour mark.
Newcastle's second-string reduced the deficit on the stroke of half-time courtesy of Rory Finneran's effort, the 17-year-old midfielder's first goal for the club at under-21 level, before Jones, arguably against the run of play, restored Norwich's two-goal cushion after the hour mark, with Fraser Harper's deflected stoppage-time strike proving a mere consolation for Adam Lawrence's side.
United's youngsters trailed inside 16 seconds as Jones scored for the visitors, with the Canaries striker getting in behind the Magpies defence before drilling a fierce low effort into the bottom left-hand corner.
Harrison Ashby, a Premier League debutant with West Ham United, produced an important clearance to prevent Norwich from extending their lead further, with the former Scotland Under-21 international turning Errol Mundle-Smith's dangerous low cross into the six-yard area out for a corner, with Chilvers situated at the back post.
Newcastle, however, conceded from the resulting corner in the 27th minute as Aidan Bridge's in-swinging corner was headed towards goal by Luke Towler, with Chilvers on hand to nod the ball into the net inside the six-yard area.
United's youngsters were fortunate not to fall further behind before the half-time whistle as Jones' sliding effort, following Mundle-Smith's inviting low cross into the box, was directed inches wide of the left-hand post.
Cathal Heffernan was unable to halve the deficit minutes later as the Magpies skipper, who joined Newcastle in the summer of 2023 following his departure from AC Milan, rose high from Harrison Ashby's corner but the Irish defender's looping header was comfortably held by Norwich goalkeeper Rylee Mitchell.
Newcastle pulled a goal back in the 44th minute through Finneran as the Republic of Ireland Under-18 international, beginning the attacking move, arrived onto Alfie Harrison's pass inside the box before directing a first-time effort beyond Mitchell.
Kyle Fitzgerald, who joined the Magpies from hometown club Galway United in February, went agonisingly close to levelling for the hosts. After Ashby's corner was cleared into the Irishman's path, his fizzing first-time strike deflected onto the far right-hand post.
Newcastle were dealt a tough blow in the 66th minute as Jones regained Norwich's two-goal cushion. After Kenneth Adoh completed a surging run, holding off the challenge of Scott Bailey, he slipped the ball into Jones' path who slotted the ball into the bottom right-hand corner.
Anthony Munda, who joined the Magpies' Academy as a nine-year-old, went close to scoring his first goal of the 2025/26 season as the Cowgate-born midfielder cut inside before his powerful drive inside the box was blocked by Mitchell.
Sean Neave, who made his first-team debut for Eddie Howe's side during a pre-season friendly against Celtic FC in July, almost netted a fifth goal in his last six competitive matches at second-string level as the Winlaton-born striker latched onto Bailey's pass inside the box but his strong drive at goal was saved by Mitchell.
Leo Shahar, introduced from the substitutes' bench, went close to scoring from a direct corner as the 18-year-old right-back's in-swinging corner forced Mitchell into turning the ball over his own crossbar.
With the full-time whistle nearing, the England Under-19 international almost set up a tense finale after arriving onto Joe Brayson's cross from the left flank but saw a first-time attempt at goal inside the box pushed away by Mitchell.
Harper gave United hope of a late fightback as the central midfielder, who joined the club in October 2024 following his departure from Wolverhampton Wanderers, netted for the hosts in the first minute of stoppage-time. After Shahar's teasing corner was cleared into the 18-year-old's path, the substitute lashed a deflected effort into the top right-hand corner but Newcastle were unable to net an all-important equaliser.
Newcastle United Under-21s: James Taylor, Harrison Ashby (Leo Shahar 61), Dylan Charlton, Cathal Heffernan (c), Miodrag Pivaś, Scott Bailey, Alfie Harrison, Rory Finneran (Fraser Harper 78), Sean Neave, Anthony Munda, Kyle Fitzgerald (Joe Brayson 71).
Subs not used: Will Anderson, Ciaran Thompson.
