Beardsley backs Bailey to shine

The Baggies make the trip north to face United at Whitley Park on Monday afternoon (kick-off 1pm), where Jimmy Shan's team will go in search of their fourth Premier League 2 Division Two win in six games.

But Beardsley's Magpies are in a rich vein of form having won their last three games in all competitions, with centre half Bailey starting each of those games - the Central League Cup win over Hartlepool, the league victory over Middlesbrough and the Premier League Cup triumph at Bristol City.

And United's football development manager says that the 17-year-old's displays merit a starting berth, as Newcastle look to continue their winning streak after the international break.

"The big thing is consistency, and to be fair, we're starting to be consistent. The team also becomes consistent, in terms of team selection - we're not having to chop and change all the time, and the people who have come in have taken their chance, Owen Bailey being the perfect example," Beardsley told nufc.co.uk.

"He deserves to be in there. He's always been good for us. Even last year, when he was a bit younger, he did really well. He's always been good around the building, with a good attitude, so it's really pleasing for him. He's definitely taken his chance, and he'll play on Monday. It's only right that he does.

"It's not always possible to keep the same team or keep players happy, but at the end of the day, the kid's done nothing wrong. He's been in winning teams, having come in as a replacement when Lubo (Satka) was away on international duty. He got his chance and he's taken it, so that's good for him.

"Curtis (Good) and Lubo will be available for Monday, but Owen will play, and he deserves to."

Another player who has impressed over recent weeks is winger Yasin Ben El-Mhanni, who opened his account for the club in the 2-0 win over Boro at St. James' Park last month.

"We try and have a philosophy with our group whereby if you earn a shirt, you keep the shirt," Magpies legend Beardsley explained. "Yasin's done the same. He hasn't played many games, but he hasn't done a lot wrong - he's created a couple of goals, been involved in things and scored a goal at St. James'.

"He's had to wait his chance as he got injured, but he got his break when Callum Roberts went away on international duty, and to be fair to him, he's taken his chance."

West Brom arrive on Tyneside seeking a victory which could see them rise to within three points of current league leaders Swansea City.

And Beardsley spoke highly of the club's youth system, saying that the Baggies have proved to be tricky opposition when the two sides have met in the past.

"They've done brilliantly, and when you look at what they do, they're working hard with their youngsters," he said.

"We know what to expect - they're very high-energy, they play a nice style of football and I don't mean this in a disrespectful way, but they don't play like the first team. They're not as direct, but it'll be a good game.

"They came here two years ago now when we had Siem (de Jong), Jonas (Gutierrez) and Gabriel (Obertan) playing, and it was a tough game. We drew 1-1, and it could have gone either way.

"There's a lot of good people that you deal with, and that's the good thing at our level."