HE is yet to keep a clean sheet and has found the level of football to be more physical than he is used to, but Newcastle United’s teenage goalkeeper Paul Woolston is loving life on loan Darlington.

The 18-year-old arrived at the club a fortnight ago for a month’s loan, to replace the injured Peter Jameson, and his appearances have seen 2-1 and 4-1 wins sandwich a 2-1 defeat.

“I will keep a clean sheet soon, that’s the next thing I want to do,” said Washington teenager, who continues to train everyday with the Magpies.

“It’s brilliant being here, a good experience playing men’s football and it’s not something many young players get the chance to do.

“It’s a good test. The referees are more lenient, they don’t give as much compared to what they do in academy football. You see a lot more tackles going in here, which is good to see!

“Coming here is an eye-opener regarding what people can get away with. It’s more physical, but it’s just another test to try and get through.”

Darlington do not have a game until a week on Saturday, away to Brackley, by which point Jameson may have recovered sufficiently to retake his place, but Woolston would like to stay with Quakers for the remainder of the season.

As an 11-year-old he was in Quakers’ school of excellence, and was at Wembley as a spectator for the 2011 FA Trophy final.

He views his spell back with the club as an important part of his development in his long-term goal to become No. 1 at St James’ Park.

“It’s great coming to a club like this and hopefully I can help them get to where they should be,” he added.

“Most players in the Premier League and the Championship are lucky and don’t know about this side of the game. The lads here all have jobs away from football.

“I’ve spoken to other goalkeepers at Newcastle, Karl Darlow and Rob Elliot, and they said going on loan is a great opportunity and that this where your career starts.

“They’ve told me to come here and prove myself and that’s what I’m trying to do.

“The long-term goal is to play for Newcastle, but as a keeper you’re still classed as young until you’re 25 or 26, so I’ve got a long way to go, but hopefully coming to Darlington will help push me in the right direction.

“I don’t know what’s happening, but I would like to stay for the full season, I need to see what happens because I’ve loved every second of it and hopefully there’s a lot more to come.”

In 2012 Darlington had Jordan Pickford on loan, and, four years on, he is now enjoying a run in Sunderland’s first team and providing inspiration for Woolston.

He explained: “I know Jordan and his family. How he plays is a lot like how I see myself playing, good with my feet, and he is someone who will have a good career in the game.

“He’s proving himself now and I take inspiration from him and I want to do the same as him.”