The young Magpies conceded three times in the first half of their opening Group C fixture at the Lamb Ground, with Tom McGlinchey's strike opening the scoring before Jake Hutchinson's brace extended Tamworth's advantage further.

Trevan Sanusi's impressive finish on the stroke of half-time pulled a goal back for Newcastle's second-string before Vakhtang Salia, introduced from the restart, completed the visitors' terrific turnaround with a brace.

Newcastle's youngsters, however, left Staffordshire empty-handed as Daniel Creaney's header quickly restored Tamworth's lead before Vanylson Silva's late strike ensured maximum points for the National League outfit.

Sixteen year-old goalkeeper George Mair, a representative of England at U17 level, and 17-year-old defender Isaac Moran, who joined the Magpies from Liverpool last summer, were both handed their first competitive starts at second-string level.

Sean Neave, Miodrag Pivaš and Henry Johnson - who all featured for the Magpies' first-team last weekend following friendly fixtures against Bayer 04 Leverkusen and RC Strasbourg at St. James' Park - were also named in the starting 11.

The visitors almost got off to a flying start as Sanusi, who joined Newcastle from hometown club Birmingham City in the summer of 2023, raced onto Matheos Ferreira's neat pass in behind the Tamworth defence but the left winger's bending effort deflected wide for a corner.

Newcastle trailed in the 15th minute through McGlinchey's effort, who collected Creaney's pass in behind the United defence and, after cutting inside, fired his resulting shot into the net via the underside of the crossbar.

United's youngsters suffered a further blow four minutes later as Hutchinson scored for the hosts, managing to steer the ball into the bottom right-hand corner.

The visitors conceded a third shortly after the half-hour mark as Hutchinson netted his second of the night, latching onto Riccardo Calder's teasing low cross from the left wing before firing a first-time effort into the bottom left-hand corner.

With the half-time whistle nearing, Newcastle pulled a goal back through Sanusi's stunning strike. The 19-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Ligue 1 side FC Lorient, collected the ball on the edge of the box before rifling a powerful shot beyond Lovett.

Salia, who joined Newcastle from Dinamo Tbilisi last summer, replaced Michael Mills at the break before scoring inside three minutes of his introduction.

After Sanusi raced onto Bailey's pass in behind the Tamworth defence, the winger slid an inviting pass across the face of goal, with the Georgian teenager on hand to slide the ball into an empty net.

Neave, who made his Premier League and UEFA Champions League bows for his boyhood club last season, went close to levelling the cup clash as the Winlaton-born striker found space inside the box but could only direct his close-range effort wide of the target despite the 19-year-old's claim for a penalty after pleading the ball struck an arm during his shot.

Mair produced a key stop to prevent Tamworth regaining their two-goal cushion, pushing away Tshikuna's curling effort from the edge of the box.

In the 71st minute, Newcastle found themselves level as Salia grabbed his second goal of the evening. The 18-year-old, a representative of his country at U21 level, drilled a cross-cum shot towards goal from the right flank before the ball squirmed underneath Lovell.

United's youngsters, however, were dealt a tough blow as Creaney restored Tamworth's lead. After the Magpies were unable to clear the ball from an in-swinging corner, the Lambs forward was on hand to fire the ball into the net from close-range.

Newcastle's hopes of a late fightback were, ultimately, ended as Silva netted Tamworth's fifth of the night as Lambs substitute collected the ball in a dangerous position before arrowing a low effort into the bottom right-hand corner.

Newcastle United Under-21s: George Mair, Henry Johnson, Luke Craggs (c) (Jake Durrant 83), Miodrag Pivaš, Isaac Moran, Scott Bailey, Michael Mills (Vakhtang Salia 46), Fraser Harper, Sean Neave (Afner Cá 83), Matheos Ferreira (Park Seung-soo 77), Trevan Sanusi (Kyle Fitzgerald 83).

Subs not used: Logan Watts, Alex Walpole.

Photography courtesy of Jayden Porter (Tamworth Football Club)