A JUBILANT Alan Pardew claimed Newcastle United’s future is in safe hands after the club’s emerging stars played a pivotal role in last night’s sensational Capital One Cup win at Manchester City.

Rolando Aarons and Moussa Sissoko scored the decisive goals as Newcastle dumped the cup holders out of the competition to set up a quarter-final tie at Tottenham in the week preceding the Tyne-Wear derby in mid-December.

Four days after claiming a league win at White Hart Lane, a much-changed Magpies line-up celebrated an even more notable victory as they recorded the club’s first ever win at the Etihad Stadium.

As well as 18-year-old Aarons, who scored within the opening six minutes, Newcastle’s starting line-up also included 23-year-old Paul Dummett, 22-year-old Mehdi Abeid, 21-year-old Massadio Haidara and 17-year-old Adam Armstrong.

Having put his faith in so many youngsters, Pardew was delighted to see his confidence rewarded, and the Newcastle boss regards last night’s display as proof of a bright future.

“I was impressed with our younger players in particular,” he said. “That bodes well for us going forwards.

“Dummett, who we think will probably end up as a natural centre-half, was outstanding, and Abeid was excellent in midfield. Rolando was outstanding, and Armstrong, you don't know how good he is. He had to work very hard, and he is an outstanding prospect.

“We just needed belief really, and the victories have given us that. We are playing with belief. We believed we could win, and it showed on the pitch.”

Pardew reserved special praise for Ryan Taylor, who returned from a two-year injury absence to produce a magnificent display at both right midfield and right-back.

Having suffered two separate cruciate ligament injuries in the space of a little over a year, there were fears that Taylor might not play again, such was the seriousness of his setbacks.

However, he has battled his way back to full fitness, with Pardew having been impressed by the 30-year-old’s strength of character during his darkest days.

Taylor’s determination to force his way back into the first-team picture never wavered, and he endeared himself to the Newcastle support by watching the occasional away game from a position amongst the fans.

“Professional footballers sometimes get a bad press for the way they conduct themselves,” said Pardew. “But you're talking about a guy who’s been injured for two years who has conducted himself in the best possible manner.

“He has had a smile on his face for two years, and he has got that reward, even though I think he has only had a reserve game and a half. But he has come in tonight and been outstanding.

“He's a special player in our group. Our players all love him and he got a special round of applause when he came in the dressing room after the game. We all respect him after two years out with those injuries.

“His performance was what he is all about - discipline and quality, which is what he's like as an individual. You have to remember when you can't do what you want to do, it's very frustrating as a professional athlete.

“He's been restricted and unable to do what he does best, so of course he's going to be emotional. But what a great night for him and us.”

Newcastle’s reward for the win is a return trip to White Hart Lane in the week beginning Monday, December 15 for what will be their fourth successive away game in the competition.

The draw could have been more favourable, but while official club policy recommends “not prioritising” the cup competitions, the Magpies will head to North London for their first League Cup quarter-final in nine years buoyed by their achievements in the competition so far.

“When they (Spurs) came out of the hat, I suspected it would be us after the weekend,” said Pardew. “It was ironic. It will be a difficult game, and they'll be out for revenge.

“But we've won the last two times we've been there. The last time we were in a quarter-final, it was Benfica (in the Europa League) and we narrowly lost that, so hopefully we can win this one.”