The forward bagged two goals either side of half time at Little Benton to take his tally to five for the season, as an experienced United side put the Swans to the sword.

There were also goals for Jack Colback and Callum Roberts, as a fine performance from Peter Beardsley’s team saw them get off the mark in Group D.

Beardsley included first teamers Jamie Sterry, Massadio Haidara, Jack Colback and Henri Saivet in the Magpies line-up, and they began well, with Macaulay Gillesphey forcing a save from Lewis Thomas with an overhead kick, and Saivet fizzing a shot past the post.

And an opener took just 11 minutes to arrive, as seconds after Thomas had blocked Victor Fernandez effort from close range, Jack Colback found a way past the visitors’ goalkeeper from the edge of the area.

Seconds later, it was two as Roberts’ effort crept past Thomas, striking the base of the post on its way in to reward the Magpies for their excellent start.

It could have been three after quarter of an hour but, after Fernandez tormented the Swans’ defence, Heardman’s fierce shot hit the crossbar, with Thomas beaten.

But against the run of play, the Welsh side pulled a goal back just before the half hour. An error at the back gave Liam Cullen a sight of goal, and his curling effort beat Paul Woolston, eventually finding its way into the net despite the last-ditch efforts of Gillesphey on the line.

United responded, though, and after more direct play from Fernandez on the left, Heardman’s shot clipped the outside of the post.

The warning wasn’t heeded by the Swans, and another two goals in three minutes before the break all but ended their hopes of taking something from the game. Roberts made United’s third, driving forwards before playing Heardman in with an inch-perfect through ball, which the 22-year-old dispatched with the help of a slight deflection.

And a minute before the break, Heardman helped himself to his second, profiting from Fernandez’s powerful run at the heart of the defence. The frontman raced on to his teammate’s pass and slid the ball beyond Thomas to make it 4-1 at half time.

The Swans showed some intent after the restart, with Courtney Baker-Richardson blasting wide, but on 58 minutes Heardman made sure of the matchball. Fernandez forced a save from Thomas, who could only parry the ball out as far as the former Bury loanee, who gleefully dispatched his third goal of an outstanding afternoon.

Cullen pulled another goal back from close range, but with 20 minutes left United made it six. It came as a result of some good work from Dan Barlaser out on the right; it was his low cross which was finished confidently by Heardman for his fouth.

Adnan Maric prodded home to score his side’s third late on, but in truth the scoreline did not flatter Newcastle’s youngsters, who carved out enough opportunities to have won by an even greater margin.

Next up for Beardsley’s side is another Premier League Cup tie, at Colchester United on Monday.

Newcastle United Under-23s: Paul Woolston; Jamie Sterry, Kyle Cameron, Macaulay Gillesphey, Massadio Haidara; Henri Saivet, Jack Colback; Callum Roberts (Yasin Ben El-Mhanni 79), Dan Barlaser, Victor Fernandez; Tom Heardman (Luke Charman 75).

Subs not used: Nathan Harker, Owen Bailey, Dan Ward.