Diallo opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time at the Magpies’ Little Benton Academy, winning a penalty after Everton goalkeeper Fraser Barnsley brought down the winger inside the penalty area before calmly stroking the ball home from 12 yards.

In torrid weather conditions, United’s second-string saw out the contest in the second half to record their first league clean sheet of the 2023/24 campaign, moving into the top 16 spots of the 26-team division in the process.

Ben Dawson made four changes from the side which claimed a 5-0 win against Newcastle Blue Star in last week's Northumberland Senior Cup tie as Diallo, who travelled with the Magpies’ first-team squad for their 2-2 draw at West Ham United, was handed a start as well as midfielder Lucas De Bolle, Dylan Stephenson and goalkeeper Will Brown.

The young Magpies began the league encounter in strong fashion as Ben Parkinson raced onto Diallo’s through pass but the Durham-born forward’s attempt at goal was blocked following Jack Patterson's last-ditch sliding tackle.

Diallo went close to completing a neat attacking move in the early stages as the 21-year-old winger, who joined the Magpies in October 2022 following his departure from West Ham, controlled Dylan Stephenson’s pass before directing a low drive wide of the left-hand post.

Brown, making his first competitive start of the season at under-21 level, prevented Francis Okoronkwo from opening the scoring after the Toffees striker raced through on goal but the 21-year-old goalkeeper stood tall before gathering the ball after the Everton frontman attempted to round the Magpies shot-stopper.

In the 45th minute, Newcastle took the lead through Diallo’s penalty, his second goal of the 2023/24 season at under-21 level. After racing onto Lucas De Bolle’s through ball, the former England Under-17 international attempted to round Barnsley before the Everton goalkeeper brought down the Magpies forward, leaving Diallo to cooly dispatch the resulting spot-kick, slotting the ball down the middle.

In the second half, Newcastle continued their pursuit for a second goal, with Diallo dangerously cutting inside from the left flank before his fiercely driven effort was pushed out for a corner by Barnsley.

De Bolle went close to extending Newcastle’s advantage as the Scotland Under-21 international, who spent the second half of the 2022/23 campaign on loan at Scottish League One side Hamilton Academical, latched onto Diallo’s diagonal cross before the central midfielder’s fierce volley was parried by Barnsley before the loose ball was hooked clear from the box.

Everton threatened to level in the final stages as Jenson Metcalfe’s in-swinging free kick from the right flank evaded a crowded penalty area to the relief of the home side.

De Bolle, arguably, should have confirmed maximum points in the final minutes as the 21-year-old, who made his Magpies first team debut during a pre-season friendly victory against Athletic Club in August 2022, was teed up by Stephenson inside the box before blasting his effort over the crossbar but the miss did not prove costly as Newcastle’s second-string held firm for maximum points.

Newcastle United Under-21s: Will Brown, Charlie Wiggett, Cathal Heffernan (c), Remi Savage (Charlie McArthur 81), Josh Scott, Nathan Carlyon, Lucas De Bolle, James Huntley, Dylan Stephenson (Michael Ndiweni 90), Amadou Diallo, Ben Parkinson (Kyle Crossley 81).

Subs not used: Ciaran Thompson, Aidan Harris.