Newcastle United are pleased with the progress of youngsters JJ Hooper, Marcus Maddison and Michael Riley away on-loan.

Striker Hooper is on a work experience loan with non-league Workington while winger Maddison was recently joined by left-back Riley at Blyth Spartans.

"For all three of them, it's just about playing games and learning from that because that is the only way you learn - playing in 11-a-side games, especially against men in a really competitive environment," Toon youth chief Willie Donachie told nufc.co.uk. "It'll be good for them.

"Peter (Beardsley) saw Marcus playing at Blyth and he said he worked really hard and we'll try to see JJ and Michael as soon as possible."