Five youngsters have put pen to paper on their first professional contracts with Newcastle United.
Dylan Stephenson, Lucas De Bolle, Josh Scott, Nathan Carlyon and Joe Oliver - all boyhood Magpies supporters - have agreed full-time deals after progressing from the club's Little Benton Academy.
Stephenson joined United at the age of 14 from Newcastle City Juniors and scored four goals in Newcastle United Under-18s' run to the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals last term, netting a hat-trick against Leeds United in the fourth round.
De Bolle, who was born in Edinburgh before relocating to Newcastle at the age of 13, is a midfielder who also caught the eye in the Magpies' FA Youth Cup campaign, producing a goal and assist against Watford in round five at St. James' Park.
Scott is a left-back who hails from Gateshead and studied at Heworth Grange School. Equally capable in attack as defence, the full-back is hoping to emulate Paul Dummett's path from Little Benton to the Premier League.
Carlyon is a midfielder who joined United's youth system at the age of eight after playing football for Beamish FC at junior level. An admirer of Yohan Cabaye and Fernando Torres growing up, the youngster admitted he "wore a headband for Beamish" in comparison to the Spanish striker.
Oliver is a right-back who was a virtual ever-present for United's under-18 squad throughout last season and is relishing making the step into under-23s football.
