Newcastle United reserves manager Willie Donachie admits their priority is to start producing more local talent.

Toon management know how important it is for fans to see Geordies in the first team.

"Newcastle's long-term focus is to have a team with a backbone of home-grown players. That is the way we need to go as a football club," Donachie told the Evening Chronicle.

"These local lads won't ever want to leave because they know what the clubs means and what happens to Newcastle really matters to them - because they are supporters themselves.

"The club is in their hearts and that is so important. This famously worked for Sir Alex Ferguson with that famous team of David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and the rest.

"We really want to produce more home-grown players. That is vital for Newcastle United. I know that the fans want to see more local lads in the team and so do we. We have made massive steps forwards regarding this.

"The more of these boys we get playing in the first team then the better it will be for the club."