Newcastle United Under-21s can secure a place in the knockout stages of the EFL Trophy for the first time since 2018 if they avoid defeat at League Two side Rotherham United on Tuesday night.
The young Magpies have not progressed beyond the group stage of the competition since 2018, when a squad featuring Matty Longstaff, Kell Watts and Callum Roberts reached the last 16 before losing to a Sunderland side then playing in League One.
Having beaten York City and lost narrowly at Bradford City, Newcastle will advance to the first knockout round with a draw or a win against a Rotherham side sitting just one place above the League Two relegation zone.
A Shootout at Rotherham
A home win would see the Millers progress at Newcastle's expense, which is why Under-21s lead coach Robbie Stockdale described the meeting as "a bit of a shootout between the two teams."
Speaking after Friday night's Premier League Cup victory over Peterborough United, Stockdale told Chronicle Live: "It's a really good challenge for them. The environment they go into in the stadiums, playing against seasoned professionals and we have really enjoyed those games."
"Going into the game on Tuesday, it doesn't happen very often for an Under-21s team to get through but we have put ourselves in a position with the way we have played to get into the knockout rounds and that is the next challenge."
Rotation and Competition
Stockdale made six changes from the starting eleven that beat Sunderland as his side secured a fourth consecutive win by seeing off Peterborough.
Further changes could follow ahead of the trip to Rotherham as Stockdale manages a healthy group of eligible players, and he believes the competition for places is improving his young prospects.
He said: "They all train well, they all deserve an opportunity in the team and we are in a really busy schedule. We play against Tuesday and Friday and we just tried to share some minutes, give players some game-time that haven't played as much as they'd like and to give opportunity."
"We try and treat it like a first team, there has to be competition for places and that makes everyone better."
