Newcastle United academy chief Joe Joyce admits they've had to be ruthless in cutting the age group above the youth team.

United are approaching the Academy with a greater degree of ruthlessness, a wholesale cut of young professionals seen as a way to open up a pathway to the first team for younger players coming into the club.

Joyce told The Journal: "It was a big decision.

"The lads that will move on, there is no pathway for them at the moment.

"However, the ones we have kept, the club still feels they have the potential to play in the first team.

"That does become the bottom line. Does he have the potential to play in the Premier League for Newcastle United?

"It is a huge ask - every Premier League player is an international player and players are coming from around the world to play in the Premier League.

"Bringing in players from all over the country and globally raises the standard for our Adam Campbells and our Remi Streetes."