Hernes vying for Villa victory

The young Magpies host their Villans counterparts at Whitley Park (kick-off 7pm GMT) aiming for a first win in five attempts across all competitions and were cruelly denied a first away victory of the 2023/24 campaign last week, conceding in stoppage-time during a 2-2 draw against Leicester City. 

Hernes, who joined United from Shrewsbury Town in September 2023, believes United's second-string can take encouragement from Monday's encounter against the Foxes ahead of facing Villa's youngsters as they aim to finish inside the top 16 to qualify for a single elimination play-off at the end of the season.

The 18-year-old midfielder, who made his Premier League 2 debut against Leicester, told nufc.co.uk: "We're very determined to win. Against Leicester, we had a lot of chances to score more goals and we conceded two sloppy goals so we want to try and get back to winning ways.

"Conceding in the last minute against Leicester was tough and it felt like a defeat as we were gutted not to get the three points we wanted but there are plenty of positives for us to build on.

"All of the lads stuck together and created a lot of goalscoring opportunities, especially in the first half, so we just want to kick on from that when we play against Villa.

"Making my debut in the Premier League 2 was really good. It's a much different pace than what it is at under-18 level, a lot more physical and I felt like it was a really good experience.

"You have to think a lot quicker as everything as the game is played a lot faster and it's a much better level."

Hernes, a representative of Norway at under-17 level, scored on his senior debut for Shrewsbury at the age of 16 in an EFL Trophy clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s before making his full competitive bow in a Carabao Cup tie against Leeds United in August 2023, playing in front of over 35,000 spectators at Elland Road before later arriving at St. James' Park.

The promising Norwegian has relished his maiden campaign on Tyneside, recording a goal and two assists in five UEFA Youth League matches for United's under-19 side as well as training with Newcastle's first-team squad in recent weeks. 

The Heradsbygda-born teenager added: "It's a really good academy and you can see there's a lot of players who are breaking into the first-team and it shows there is a good pathway for the younger lads.

"I've been training with the first-team and that will only make you better yourself as a footballer when you're going up against that level of player. It's a really good experience to do that and it is important for your development and being able to challenge yourself against them.

"Whenever you go up there, it's about trying to take so much information on board.

"Everyone wants to do what they've done and when I watch them in training, you can see they have still got the mentality of when they were young, taking everything in from the gaffer."

Admission for Monday's Premier League 2 clash against Aston Villa is free for season ticket holders, otherwise it's £3 for adults and £1 concessions.