Ellis Stanton’s terrific finish sent the young Magpies into an early lead before three goals in six second half minutes, courtesy of James Huntley, Kyle Crossley and Josh Scott, extended the hosts’ advantage further at Whitley Park.

Stanton completed the rout with his second goal of the evening, with United’s youngsters facing a home tie against Northern League Division Two side Bedlington Terriers in the quarter-finals as they bid to win the competition for the first time since 2018.

Ben Dawson made five changes from the starting XI which suffered a penalty shoot-out defeat against Port Vale in the EFL Trophy last week as teenage centre-back Cathal Heffernan, who represented Republic Ireland Under-19s whilst on international duty, returned to the side while Ellis Stanton, who scored a 90th minute equaliser against Vale in a 1-1 draw, was handed a start as well as James Huntley and Dylan Charlton.

Newcastle’s youngsters got off to a flying start as, in the seventh minute, Stanton broke the deadlock in the opening stages, collecting Charlie Wiggett’s pass on the edge of the penalty area before directing a fiercely driven low effort into the bottom left-hand corner.

United’s second-string went close to doubling their lead through Huntley as the Ashington-born midfielder latched onto Josh Scott’s low cross before the 19-year-old, who signed his first professional contract with his boyhood club in the summer of 2022, fired a powerful first time effort narrowly wide of the right hand post.

Heffernan, who joined the Magpies last summer following his departure from AC Milan, almost registered his first goal for the club after the Irishman's towering header from Scott’s inviting corner was tipped over the crossbar by Blue Star goalkeeper Callum Dobson.

Scott struck the woodwork for the hosts after the ball fell kindly into the Gateshead-born youngster's path but the resulting shot crashed off the crossbar.

In the 56th minute, Newcastle doubled their advantage as Huntley netted his second goal of the season at under-21 level. After controlling the ball inside the penalty area, the central midfielder stabbed a low effort into the bottom right-hand corner.

Four minutes later, Crossley netted United’s third of the night as the rapid left winger latched onto Ben Parkinson's flick before directing a close-range header beyond Dobson, the 19-year-old's third goal in his last four games at second-string level.

The goals continued to follow as Scott netted his first goal of the 2023/24 campaign, darting into the box before firing a delightful curling effort into the far left-hand corner.

Stanton added gloss to the scoreline in the 77th minute with his second goal of the evening as the Farringdon-born midfielder, who joined United’s youth set-up at the age of eight, was allowed space and time inside the penalty area before placing the ball into the left-hand corner.

Newcastle United Under-21s: Aidan Harris, Charlie Wiggett, Cathal Heffernan (c), Remi Savage, Dylan Charlton, Nathan Carlyon (Jamie Miley 63), Ellis Stanton, James Huntley (Ciaran Thompson 78), Josh Scott, Kyle Crossley (Dylan Stephenson 63), Ben Parkinson (Michael Ndiweni 63).

Subs not used: Will Brown.