Newcastle United under-21s boss Ben Dawson is full of praise for Ben Parkinson.

The teenager has been impressive with the Magpies' second string this season.

He is one of many prospects getting more game time under Dawson, with the attacker celebrating his 18th birthday recently.

The Newcastle U21s boss told ChronicleLive: "I think with the younger lads, it's very much a case of ourselves and the under-18s staff are all in the same office. We're having those daily discussions around who did well today in training, who did well in the games, does anyone need a little taste of it in training for a couple of days?

"Mark Atkinson plays a big part in that as head of player development, just making sure the players get what they need at the right stage. Whether it's a day a week with the under-21s, which is how Ben and Ciaran probably started out.

"They gradually get to the point where we think they can cope with the demands of the programme. Particularly with Ben who has been with us a little longer, he's started to handle the games along with the training. His performances have been a good reflection of that."