Sanusi salutes young Magpies after UEFA Youth League triumph

The Toon teenagers led inside 11 minutes of their Group F encounter as teenage midfielder Scott Bailey, a late introduction to the starting line-up following Ciaran Thompson’s withdrawal in the warm-up, completed a neat attacking move from the visitors before PSG captain Senny Mayulu was sent off within the opening minutes of the restart after receiving a second yellow card.

Newcastle found themselves on level terms in the closing stages through Mahamadou Sangaré’s volley but regained their lead in the dying stages through Johnny Emerson’s strike, sealing the club’s first ever victory in the competition, with Sanusi pleased to avenge their narrow 1-0 defeat against the French outfit in their reverse fixture in October, conceding in stoppage-time.

Sanusi, who joined the Magpies from hometown club Birmingham City last summer, told nufc.o.uk: “I was amazed and it’s such a good feeling to win against a big club. The last time we played against PSG, we were unlucky to lose 1-0 but we always had faith we could win. We showed that today and everyone had belief so it’s amazing to get the win.

“Everyone was overwhelmed to get the opening goal. Everyone was very energetic and, in the dressing room before kick-off, we said we wanted to get that early breakthrough and take control of the game from there. We managed to do that and although they got a goal back, we were able to score again which was good.

“As soon as the second goal went in, it was unbelievable as we didn’t realise how it had happened at first but every goal counts and we were delighted to get three points.

“I think we saw the first game in the UEFA Youth League against Milan as a new experience and then, as the games have went on, we started to get more into them, stepping up and playing better, and I think that has shown against PSG. Everyone was on top form.”

The 16-year-old winger, a representative of England at under-17 level, made his under-21s debut for Newcastle’s second-string in last week's Bristol Street Motors Trophy clash away at Crewe Alexandra, expressing his delight in making his second-string bow for the Magpies.

The promising forward has relished featuring in numerous competitions with Newcastle's youth sides so far this term as he aims to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Academy products Lewis Miley, Ben Parkinson and Alex Murphy in making his senior bow for the club.

The Birmingham-born youngster added: “Playing in these kind of competitions is very motivating. Hopefully, I can get into the first-team in the next couple of years so I need to keep pushing.

“I’m really enjoying my time at Newcastle so far and I feel I'm improving my game. I’ve been doing well in out-of-possession work, running backwards, and then focusing on playing on the wing, trying to into the box and final third to create chances.

“I was pleased to make my under-21s debut against Crewe in the EFL Trophy. I was around Birmingham City’s under-21 team before joining Newcastle but this is a different level, playing against bigger clubs. I think I was used to it at Birmingham and I’m getting back into it now, which is making me happy because I can get back into that position I was at before."