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Newcastle United sporting director Ross Wilson(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Image)<\/p>\nThe young Magpies sealed their place in the FA Youth Cup fourth round with a 5-2 win over PortsmouthNewcastle United sporting director Ross Wilson(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Image)<\/p>\n
When Ross Wilson sold his vision for Newcastle United, academy recruitment was just as much of a focus as the first team.<\/p>\n
Newcastle’s new sporting director outlined his recruitment vision<\/a> to a select group of Magpies fans at an event at Stack last month before he further emphasised his plans in a sit down with members of the media.<\/p>\n Wilson<\/a> wants Newcastle<\/a> to be aggressive in the academy market, not only attracting the best talent from the north-east but also the finest young talent nationwide.<\/p>\n So, as he was in attendance as Newcastle under-18s beat Portsmouth 5-2 in the FA Youth Cup third round, one moment in particular would have delighted him more than most.<\/p>\n When Newcastle doubled their lead inside the first 10 minutes it came from a defence splitting pass from Sam Alabi to set Michael Mills away down the left-hand side. Mills cut inside and fired the ball into the near corner past the despairing dive of Pompey goalkeeper Oscar Glover.<\/p>\n Alabi was recruited from Oldham back in 2023 as a 14-year-old, while Mills joined Newcastle that same summer from Port Vale.<\/p>\n Both are still just 16 years of age and both looked a class apart at Whitley Park on Tuesday evening. That would have surely pleased Wilson as it was the perfect justification of his recruitment stance.<\/p>\n Alabi has already been on the bench for the first team in last month’s defeat to Marseille and has impressed at under-21 level, too, featuring for the young Magpies in first team matches in the EFL Trophy and National League Cup. He looked calm and composed and a better player for that experience. His potential is sky high.<\/p>\n Rory Finneran, who played in a deeper role in midfield, complemented Alabi and also looked impressive going both ways. He screened brilliantly in front of the back four and his incisive pass created Newcastle’s third goal for Matheos Ferreira, who expertly dinked the ball beyond Glover. The 17-year-old was another recruited from elsewhere having joined from Blackburn Rovers in the summer of 2024.<\/p>\n Newcastle must be excited about Mills, too, who scored a brace on the night, as well as Ferreira who bagged an impressive hat-trick.<\/p>\n It was Mills who opened the scoring, coming on to an incisive Kacey Wooster pass to fire a superb right-footed effort from the left-hand side of the box into the top corner.<\/p>\n Mills doubled United’s lead just minutes later before Portsmouth got themselves back into the game with a sound finish from Tayo Singerr.<\/p>\n Ferreira restored the two-goal advantage just before half-time before his arrowed finish at the start of the second half put Newcastle beyond sight.<\/p>\n Mason Miley was among a raft of second half replacements to come on to the pitch, with older brother Lewis Miley among those in attendance at Whitley Park.<\/p>\n And one of them, Alfie Seldon, created Newcastle’s fifth goal with an inch perfect cross across the face of goal being fired home by Ferreira to cap a perfect evening for the right-winger.<\/p>\n Newcastle U18s line-up vs Portsmouth: <\/strong>Mair; Patterson, Johnson (c), Moran, Durrant; Alabi, Finneran; Ferreira (2), O’Donovan, Mills (2); Wooster<\/p>\n Subs:<\/strong> Seldon for Mills (61 mins), Goodbrand for Durrant (65 mins), Miley for Alabi (65 mins), Pinnington for O’Donovan (70 mins), Taylor for Finneran (78 mins)<\/p>\n Attendance:<\/strong> 293<\/p>\n Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package<\/p>\n This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/a> \u00a349<\/p>\n \u00a335<\/p>\n Sky<\/p>\n![\"Content](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1756163412_555_0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\")
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