Savage seeking Seagulls success

The young Magpies travel to the South coast to face their Albion counterparts at the Amex Elite Football Performance Centre (kick-off 4pm BST), aiming to record a first win since a 5-3 triumph against Southampton’s second-string on the opening weekend of the Premier League 2 campaign.

The Liverpool-born defender, who made his senior debut for the Magpies in a 3-2 pre-season friendly against Gateshead in July 2023, is relishing a return to league action ahead of taking on the Seagulls, who currently occupy fourth place in the division.

The 21-year-old centre-back told nufc.co.uk: “We’ve been working hard in our preparations for Brighton. It’s been a bit of a mix with the under-19s having a game this week (in the UEFA Youth League) but we’ve not changed and are still focussed on both games, preparing for both as best as possible, and we’re ready to head down to Brighton on Saturday and put into practice what we have been doing throughout the week.

“The past few results in the league haven’t went our way but we have been able to take positives from those games, reviewing them and knowing what we need to do to improve. We’ve had some time to think about it and we’ll be looking to get three points and back to winning ways in the league.

“The result against Wrexham (in the EFL Trophy) was disappointing but the chances and opportunities to win the game were there. Overall, as a team, we were satisfied with our performance against a tough opponent. For many, it may have been the biggest crowd some have played in front of which adds normal nerves. We’re only human beings but, as a whole, we did well and hopefully we can a winning result in our next game.

“We’re expecting to face a possession-based side. They like to play out from the back and are a team who were playing in the top division of the Premier League 2 last season so it should be a tough game but we back ourselves and know what we are all capable of."

With United’s under-21 side set for a 726-mile round-trip this weekend, Savage admitted the long venture to East Sussex can only provide an opportunity to further enhance the unity within the squad.

Savage added: “You travel the day before to give ourselves the best chance. As a team, we’re a really close-knit group so having that time together as a group, being in the hotel the night before and during the day will help us get focussed on the game.

“When kick-off arrives, we need to go out there and show what we can do. As long as we are clinical at both ends of the pitch and do what we have carried out in training, I’m confident we can come back home with three points."