A frantic opening saw the young Magpies net twice in the opening 11 minutes at the bet365 Stadium, with Dylan Stephenson's close-range finish breaking the deadlock before Kyle Crossley, initially named on the substitutes' bench before replacing the ill Jay Turner-Cooke in the starting line-up, struck his sixth Premier League 2 goal in as many matches 60 seconds later.

Jack Griffiths halved the deficit for the hosts towards the half-hour mark before the Potters were reduced to ten men on the stroke of half-time following Tommy Simkin's red card after the City goalkeeper committed a last-man foul on Stephenson.

The hosts went down to nine men shortly after the hour following Jaden Dixon's off-the-ball incident on Stephenson before Ben Dawson's side comfortably saw out the remaining stages of the clash to record a second win in their last three away league matches.

Newcastle got off to a flying start in the 10th minute as Stephenson netted for the visitors. After Stoke goalkeeper Tommy Simkin parried Amadou Diallo's low effort into Crossley's path, the 19-year-old forward's resulting shot clipped the post before Stephenson was on hand to lash the ball into the roof of the net.

United's second-string doubled their goalscoring tally a minute later as Crossley continued his purple patch in front of goal, firing the ball past a stranded Simkin into the left-hand corner, the Murton-born youngster's 10th goal of the 2023/24 campaign at under-21 level.

Alfie Harrison, who joined United from Manchester City in February, went close to recording his first goal at under-21 level as the 18-year-old midfielder evaded a number of challenges before directing a low effort wide of the right-hand post.

Jamie Miley, who made his first-team debut for his boyhood club during a pre-season friendly against Gateshead last summer, was withdrawn due to injury before the young Magpies suffered a further blow in the 28th minute as Griffiths netted for Stoke, reacting at the back post before placing the ball beyond Newcastle goalkeeper Aidan Harris.

Cathal Heffernan almost netted on the eve of his 19th birthday as the Irish centre-back, who joined United last summer following his departure from AC Milan, rose high from Harrison's corner but saw his header rise over the crossbar.

Crossley went close to netting a neat attacking move shortly after which involved Diallo, Stephenson and Lucas De Bolle, who replaced the injured Miley, before the latter teed up the in-form forward before his shot was blocked by Dixon.

Harris, who made his under-21s debut in an EFL Trophy clash against Wrexham in September 2023 at the age of 16, produced an important save to prevent Keke Jeffers levelling the clash as the teenage shot-stopper got down low to hold the City striker's fierce drive from the edge of the box.

With half-time nearing, Stoke were reduced to ten men as Simkin received a straight red card, with the goalkeeper taking down Stephenson towards the edge of the box after the Blyth-born striker attempted to take the ball around the incoming 'keeper.

Harris, who was named on the bench for the Magpies' UEFA Champions League Group F clash away at AC Milan in September, produced another key stop in the second-half as Darius Lipsuic's audacious strike from distance sailed into the hands of the 17-year-old shot-stopper.

Stoke saw another player dismissed as Dixon received his marching orders. After Stephenson attempted to close down substitute goalkeeper Scott Morris, the 21-year-old striker looked to have been struck by Dixon's arm in the process which resulted in the Stoke skipper's dismissal.

Diallo was unfortunate not to regain United's two-goal cushion as the London-born winger, who made his Premier League debut for the Magpies against Chelsea in November, evaded his marker inside the box before his goalbound shot was heroically cleared off the line by Stoke full-back Josh Bickerton.

Harrison almost confirmed maximum points in stoppage-time as Diallo raced onto Leo Shahar's pass before picking out the Bradford-born youngster but his effort struck the side-netting but it would not prove costly as the young Magpies saw out the victory in Staffordshire.

Newcastle United Under-21s: Aidan Harris, Leo Shahar, Cathal Heffernan (c), Ciaran Thompson, Dylan Charlton, Jamie Miley (Lucas De Bolle 22), Ellis Stanton (Charlie McArthur 75), Alfie Harrison, Kyle Crossley, Amadou Diallo, Dylan Stephenson.

Subs not used: Will Brown, Jordan Hackett.