Newcastle, situated at the foot of Group F, were required to win their final group fixture by a minimum of four goals in order to maintain their hopes of qualifying for the last 16 but fell behind in the opening stages at the Impact Arena following Manni Norkett's scrambled finish.

However, the young Magpies netted twice in the space of three second-half minutes, with Alex Murphy's header drawing the visitors on level terms before Amadou Diallo's penalty sent Newcastle's second-string in front, ultimately ending their group campaign in victorious fashion.

United's second-string went close to gaining an early lead as Amadou Diallo's free-kick was glanced towards goal by Murphy but the Irishman's header struck the inside of the far right-hand post before the loose ball was cleared from the penalty area.

In the 12th minute, Forest took the lead through Norkett's close-range finish. After Kyle McAdam latched onto the ball inside the penalty area, the full-back's strike was blocked into the path of Norkett, who stabbed the ball home.

Diallo went close to netting an impressive equaliser as the Canning Town-born winger's curling strike from the edge of the box was tipped over the crossbar by Forest goalkeeper Aaron Bott.

Forest skipper Zach Abbott almost netted an own goal for the young Magpies as Murphy's cross from the left flank forced Bott into pushing the ball out for a corner.

Smith produced an important save to prevent McAdam doubling Forest's advantage, getting down low to hold the defender's low strike at goal before, minutes later, Stanton drove a vicious effort from the edge of the box narrowly over the crossbar.

Newcastle began the second-half in bright fashion as Murphy levelled the scoring in the 50th minute as the Irish defender, who joined the Magpies from hometown club Galway United in the summer of 2022, rose high from Diallo's corner before directing a powerful header into the net.

Three minutes later, Newcastle edged in front through Diallo's penalty. After Sanusi advanced into the penalty area, the England Under-17 international was bundled over inside the box, leaving Diallo to cooly dispatch his spot-kick from 12 yards into the bottom left-hand corner, sending Bott the wrong way. 

Kyle Crossley, who scored in September's Premier League 2 encounter against Nottingham Forest, was introduced in the latter stages and the Murton-born youngster went close to doubling United's lead, racing onto Murphy's lofted pass before his resulting shot from a tight angle was held by Bott.

Newcastle's youngsters held firm in the final stages of the contest to record their first away win of the 2023/24 campaign, with the young Magpies facing a trip to Middlesbrough on Friday, 9th February (kick-off 7pm GMT) at Heritage Park, home of Bishop Auckland.

Newcastle United Under-21s: Jude Smith, Leo Shahar, Ciaran Thompson, Cathal Heffernan (c), Alex Murphy, Ellis Stanton (Kyle Crossley 82), Travis Hernes (Nathan Carlyon 46), Anthony Munda, Trevan Sanusi, Amadou Diallo, Ben Parkinson (James Huntley 46).

Subs not used: Jordan Hackett, Reece Byrne.