Dylan Stephenson's excellent lob sent the young Magpies ahead inside two minutes at the Leicester City Training Ground before Harvey Godsmark-Ford's close-range header drew the hosts level.

After the young Magpies struck the woodwork twice in the second-half through Charlie McArthur and Amadou Diallo, Ben Parkinson's deft finish from James Huntley's cross regained Newcastle's advantage before Ewing's scrambled finish in the dying stages denied United's youngsters a first away win of the 2023/24 campaign.

Ben Dawson made five changes to the starting eleven which suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat against their Manchester United counterparts last month as Irish goalkeeper Reece Byrne, who joined the Magpies from Bohemians last summer, was handed his debut for Newcastle at under-21 level.

Parkinson, who made his first-team debut for his boyhood club away at AFC Bournemouth in November as well as Alex Murphy and Amadou Diallo, who made their Premier League bows against Chelsea at St. James' Park, were also handed starts against the Foxes.

In the 2nd minute, Newcastle took the lead through Stephenson's composed finish. After capitalising on Joe Wormleighton's unfortunate slip, the Blyth-born forward raced through on goal before cooly lifting the ball over Leicester goalkeeper Brad Young.

Stephenson, who netted twice against the Foxes in November before the Premier League 2 clash was abandoned due to a medical emergency, almost repeated the feat as the 21-year-old twisted and turned inside the box following Diallo's lofted free-kick before his fierce effort at goal was blocked by Henry Cartwright.

In the 18th minute, Leicester drew level through Godsmark-Ford as the City defender latched onto Amani Richards' corner before heading the ball into the net from close-range.

On the stroke of half-time, Newcastle almost regained their one-goal cushion as Travis Hernes' cross found its way to Stephenson inside the box who saw his close-range effort blocked before James Huntley's rebound was heroically turned out for a corner by Wormleighton.

In the second-half, Newcastle almost took the lead in spectacular fashion through McArthur as the Magpies defender, who joined United from hometown club Kilmarnock in the summer of 2022, let fly from distance but saw his travelling shot cannon off the roof of the crossbar.

Diallo went agonisingly close to putting Newcastle in front as the 20-year-old winger, who plays primarily on the left, cut inside before his drilled effort from the edge of the penalty area struck the woodwork.

In the 73rd minute, Parkinson restored Newcastle's lead as the Durham-born forward, who was named on the Magpies' first-team bench for last weekend's Emirates FA Cup victory against rivals Sunderland, latched onto Huntley's cross from the left flank before delicately lifting the ball into the bottom right-hand corner beyond Young.

Ciaran Thompson, who signed his first professional contract with his boyhood club last summer, went close to doubling the visitors' advantage as the right-back raced onto a loose ball before his resulting low effort whistled narrowly beyond the far left-hand post.

With four minutes of stoppage-time awarded, Newcastle were dealt a sickening blow as Ewing equalised for City. After the United defence failed to clear a dangerous corner, the City substitute was on hand to tuck the ball home from close-range.

Newcastle United Under-21s: Reece Byrne, Ciaran Thompson, Charlie McArthur, Cathal Heffernan (c), Alex Murphy (Jordan Hackett 76), Nathan Carlyon (Ellis Stanton 65), Travis Hernes (Michael Ndiweni 89), James Huntley (Josh Scott 76), Ben Parkinson, Amadou Diallo, Dylan Stephenson.

Subs not used: Adrian Janusz.