Improving strength is key to on-form

League and FA Cup. With Eddie Howe's senior strikers struggling to find form as the Magpies' season draws to an underwhelming end, Neave is providing some room for positivity at the top end of the pitch within Robbie Stockdale's Under-21s side.

- By MARK CARRUTHERS

SEAN Neave has been told what he must do to break into Newcastle United's first-team setup on a regular basis after extending his impressive goalscoring form at Under-21 level.

The Winlaton-born striker made his long-awaited senior debut in February when he came off the bench for the closing stages of the first leg of a Champions League playoff round tie against Qarabag.

However, the cameo in Azerbaijan remains Neave's only first-team involvement and he has since been an unused substitute on seven occasions in the Premier League, Champions