The Villans included first-team regular Henri Lansbury, who was making his comeback from injury, and England under-21 international Jack Grealish - the man whose late goal against Brighton on the final day of last season handed the Sky Bet Championship title to the Magpies.

And they proved too strong for Peter Beardsley's side at Walsall's Banks's Stadium, with teenager Callum O'Hare hitting a hat-trick.

Rafa Benítez's first team were in action at Burnley on the same evening so senior experience was thin on the ground for the Magpies - only Jamie Sterry had made a league appearance for United, with Dan Barlaser, Yasin Ben El-Mhanni and Callum Roberts boasting six cup games between them.

But Beardsley will still be disappointed with the scoreline, which means Newcastle still haven't won in Premier League 2 since August. 

Harry McKirdy opened the scoring inside the opening ten minutes before O'Hare scored twice and Lansbury got on the scoresheet. 

In the second half, O'Hare completed his hat-trick - following up after Freddie Woodman had saved his penalty - and Jake Doyle-Hayes rounded off the scoring late on.

Barlaser was sent off in conceding the penalty to cap a miserable evening for the Magpies, with Woodman keeping the score down in the second half with some good stops.

Newcastle United Under-23s: Freddie Woodman, Jamie Sterry, Ben Kitchen, Dan Ward, Josef Yarney, Macaulay Gillesphey, Victor Fernandez, Dan Barlaser, Tom Heardman (Lewis McNall 70), Callum Roberts (Owen Bailey 60), Yasin Ben El-Mhanni (Callum Smith 46)

Subs not used: Nathan Harker, Mackenzie Heaney

Photograph courtesy of Neville Williams/Aston Villa Football Club