Adam Armstrong and Siem de Jong both featured for Newcastle U21 in the 2-1 win over Aston Villa counterparts and made strong claims for the place in the starting eleven for the upcoming league game against Swansea City.

Armstrong's two goals gave the Magpies U21s victory while Dutch forward de Jong made his comeback from a collapsed lung with a 72-minute run-out at Villa Park.

The return of de Jong, signed from Ajax last summer, is timely given the Magpies' dismal form of late. Newcastle has lost its last six league games and head coach John Carver has indicated at changes in the starting eleven for the remaining fixtures.