IT remains to be seen if Rafa Benitez will now feel like he can trust more of his academy graduates in the Premier League after a successful night for the Newcastle United production line in the FA Cup.

When the Magpies booked a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup with an extra-time victory over Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night, it was the performances of a couple of young guns – as well as the impressive Fabian Schar – that stood out.

While Jamie Sterry looked comfortable on the ball at right-back, there were also goals from attacking midfield from Sean Longstaff and Callum Roberts to get Newcastle on track.

All three have made strides towards the first team picture having spent years at the academy on Tyneside but have had to bide their time, as well as goalkeeper Freddie Woodman and Blackburn’s Adam Armstrong.

And because Armstrong, who left permanently for Ewood Park in the summer, found the net against the club he has supported and played for, it was a memorable night for all of the coaching staff beneath senior level with the Magpies.

Rafa Benitez said: “We know the two of them who scored quite well so it’s really important to see young players coming through from the academy doing a good job. It’s not easy, you have to invest and produce and improve. I feel like we are doing that.

“I’m sure the staff who have worked with them for a long time will be pleased for them. It’s not just the commitment they had in the game, they both played well too and looked good on the ball.

“I think everyone when you score you have to be happy but when it’s a young player you are happier. That’s how we are all feeling after seeing them score at Blackburn.”

Longstaff was also in midfield at Chelsea last weekend when Newcastle lost in the Premier League and he will be pushing to start in this Saturday’s crucial fixture with Cardiff City at St James’ Park.

Benitez has shown a reluctance to play the homegrown players in the top-flight during his time in charge, but given the club’s transfer policy and lack of options, now could be the time for Longstaff, Roberts and Sterry to have even greater roles to play beyond the cups.

Ayoze Perez, who netted the fourth for Newcastle at Blackburn, said: “The fans are always supporting us, on Tuesday night away from home they were still supporting us and we gave them a good result and hopefully we can keep going.

“I am really happy for the young players because I was in their situation a couple of years ago, so hopefully there is more to come from them.”

While all eyes will now be on what Benitez decides to do with those young guns he still has at his disposal, there is no disguising the impact Armstrong has had at Ewood Park.

And the 21-year-old, a former academy team-mate of the likes of Woodman, Longstaff and Roberts, has thanked the travelling Newcastle supporters for their ovation.

When he was substituted in the second half he was applauded off by the 2,700 fans who had made their way over from Tyneside, even though he hit his seventh goal of the season in front of the Darwen End.

Armstrong, a boyhood Newcastle fan, said: “That’s Newcastle fans through and through. I am one myself, and it was a nice feeling to score. It was a goal to get us back in the game so I tried to get the ball as quickly as possible and go again. But we have to put the game behind us and move on.”

Blackburn had threatened to shock Newcastle after coming back from 2-2 to force extra-time. But the controversial goal from Joselu, who could have been given offside, was followed by an Perez’s bullet finish.

Armstrong added: “It was a disappointing dressing room but I think the lads gave it everything we’ve got against a Premier League club. The first goal took a massive deflection. Everyone put in the effort and the lads played a lot of minutes.

“The performance showed how far we’ve come. Last season we got promoted from League One and now we taking a Premier League team all the way.”