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Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez now has a wealth of options at his disposal after an extremely successful summer transfer window for the Magpies.

A total of 12 players were brought through the door, with 19 shipped out either permanently or on loan.

Yet, beyond Benitez’s 25-man first-team squad, he will also have the opportunity to include some of the best youngsters operating in Peter Beardsley’s Under-23 side in the 2016/17 season.

Now, let’s be clear, the likelihood is these youngsters will not be called upon this term given the depth of the United first-team squad.

However, should Benitez decide he wants to give some youngsters an opportunity, here are five who are likely to be near the front of the queue:

Freddie Woodman

Position: Goalkeeper

Age: 19

Already well known to the United faithful, Woodman has been courted by the likes of Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Southampton in recent years.

Signed from Crystal Palace in 2013 - brought to Tyneside to work under his father and former United goalkeeping coach Andy Woodman - the stopper spent the first part of 2015/16 on loan at Crawley Town.

After impressing during 11 league appearances for the fourth-tier club, Woodman was recalled to Tyneside following Tim Krul’s injury and found himself on the Newcastle bench fairly regularly last season.

And, though he is yet to make a senior appearance for United, Woodman signed a new four-year contract last month.

What’s more, with Tim Krul on loan and Rob Elliot still injured, should either Karl Darlow or Matz Sels pick up a knock in the next few weeks then Woodman could find himself in EFL Cup action soon enough.

Stuart Findlay

Position: Centre-back

Age: 20

Given the 12 first-team acquisitions this summer, the arrival of Findlay at St James’ Park went somewhat under the radar.

Yet the centre-back is already a Scotland Under-21 international - he has 13 caps to date - and he is extremely highly rated.

Having progressed through the Celtic youth ranks, the 6ft 3in defender did not make a first-team appearance for the Glasgow club, though he enjoyed successful loan spells at Greenock Morton, Dumbarton and Kilmarnock.

After being released from Celtic in the summer, United beat plenty of rival clubs to Findlay’s signature and he has impressed so far for Beardsley’s Under-23 side.

Unfortunately for Findlay, Benitez has a wealth of options at centre-back - not only does he have four frontline players there, he also has plenty who can cover in - but the Scot could yet get an opportunity in one of the cups.

Dan Barlaser

(Image: 2016 Newcastle United)

Position: Midfielder/Winger

Age: 19

Gateshead-born midfielder Barlaser may have grown up on Tyneside but he is of Turkish heritage.

In fact, he has already represented Turkey at youth level - and has been courted by clubs such as Besiktas in the past.

The 19-year-old has been a regular in Beardsley’s Under-23 side in recent years and is renowned for his dribbling ability, as well as his vicious shot.

Physically Barlaser still needs to bulk up a little bit before he will really be ready for first-team football, and he probably requires a loan move before being considered by Benitez, but his ability is undoubted and he remains an outside option for his manager.

Sean Longstaff

Position: Attacking-midfielder

Age: 18

A tall, rangy attacking-midfielder, Longstaff is extremely versatile and has played in a number of different roles for United across the various youth-team levels.

A former North Shields junior, the 18-year-old really impressed for the Under-23s during pre-season - including netting twice in one match in pre-season, one of which came directly from a corner.

And goals are what Longstaff brings from midfield.

Not only does he have a wicked long-range shot in his arsenal, but Longstaff is able to score all types of goals and regularly provide a threat from midfield.

Again a loan move in January may be what’s best for Longstaff - though he is certainly a player Benitez is aware of.

Yasin Ben El-Mhanni

Position: Forward

Age: 20

El-Mhanni - who has been labelled the “non-League Riyad Mahrez” - was snapped up on a permanent deal this summer after United beat off competition from Leicester City, Norwich City and Arsenal for the London-born forward.

But the 20-year-old’s real claim to fame is the fact that he has doubled for the likes of Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo in adverts for football boots - with his outrageous skills making him somewhat of a Youtube sensation.

El-Mhanni, who is of Moroccan heritage, even regularly flies around the world to teach others his trademark skills, or merely to show them off.

It only takes a few minutes of watching the 20-year-old in action to realise he has something unique about him; his ability to manoeuvre the ball like he has it attached to a string is marvellous to watch.

What is also obvious, however, is that El-Mhanni is the not the finished product. He needs to learn when it’s a case of ‘one trick too many’, and he also needs to hone his final ball.

But the encouraging thing is that the component parts are definitely there to work with.

Should Benitez require an additional bit of flair this season, then El-Mhanni could well be thrown into the first team as a left-field option.