NEWCASTLE UNDER-21s have qualified for the knockout stages of the Checkatrade Trophy as group winners after claiming a 3-2 victory at Grimsby Town.

The Magpies’ youngsters are guaranteed a home game in the last-32 after winning all three of their group matches, and cannot meet local rivals and fellow group winners Sunderland in the first knockout round.

They fell behind at an early stage of last night’s game, with one of their former youth products JJ Hooper scoring after just nine minutes, but levelled ten minutes when Callum Roberts slotted home from close range.

Elias Sorensen has been the star of Newcastle’s youth set-up this season, and the Danish youngster fired the Magpies into the lead when he claimed his 15th goal of the campaign.

Jordan Cook hauled Grimsby level at the start of the second half with a sensational overhead kick, but Newcastle maintained their 100 per cent Checkatrade record with 13 minutes left when Matty Longstaff curled home direct from a free-kick.

Newcastle Under-21s: Harker, Bailey, Gibson, M Longstaff, O’Connor, Watts, Allan (Cumbreras 86), S Longstaff, Sorensen (Toure 70), Roberts, Longelo (Wilson 66).