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Peter Beardsley believes Kevin Mbabu’s inclusion in the victorious Newcastle United Under-21 Steel Park Cup squad was a “big plus” - and admits he wouldn’t want to be tackled by the powerful defender.

The 21-year-old full-back headed to Ireland with the first team earlier this summer but returned to Tyneside after injuring his leg.

He is now regathering his fitness with the United Under-21s, and Beardsley was impressed by the Swiss defender’s physical and commanding display from full-back during the 1-0 win over PSV Eindhoven’s Under-21 side.

“He looked really strong - he looked like the man, didn’t he?” United Under-21 boss Beardsley said of Mbabu.

“With all due respect to PSV, he was a bit scary at times - I’m glad he wasn’t tackling me!

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“That’s what he’s about though. Against Chelsea last season we saw it: he’s whole-hearted, genuine and gives you everything he’s got.

“He’s a big, big plus for us.”

The presence of Mbabu and other players with first-team experience really helped Newcastle’s youngsters, with United keeping two successive clean sheets in Northamptonshire.

“Especially first half we were outstanding - everyone played really well,” Beardsley added after the victory over PSV.

“Ultimately it’s about having good players and then you’ll have a good team; they’re good players, but whether they’re top players now, probably not but we couldn’t have a better group.

“We’ve dominated this pre-season and we’re enjoying it.

“The best thing about this win was that Nathan [Harker] didn’t have a single save to make.

“An incredible defensive display - Macaulay Gillesphey and Stuart Findlay in the heart of the defence made loads of blocks.

“Then Kyle Cameron on one side, and Kevin Mbabu on the other side who was outstanding.

“All round it was excellent.”

Haris Vuckic, Ivan Toney and Gael Bigirimana also featured - and Beardsley believes it is no coincidence that results have taken an upturn given the quality he currently has to choose from.

He knows some will head out on loan this season in order to aid their development, however, and supports that move.

He continued: “Loans make a massive difference to them - Haris Vuckic came back from Wigan a league winner.

“Bigi’s been back to Coventry, Mbabu’s been in our first team, Stuart Findlay’s been on loan from Celtic.

“Going on loan long term is the right policy and everyone at the club knows that.

“If we had those players in the reserve team every week though, we wouldn’t be where we are.

“We wouldn’t have won just three games out of 22 last season.

“But we understand that the loan system is the best thing for them.

“We have a good team at the moment, but we know some will go on loan and that’s what they need for their development.

“People who don’t come to watch them play need to understand where they’re at.

“We get a lot of people on social media who complain that we don’t win games but at the end of the day when you’re short on players at first-team level, there’s a knock-on impact.”