Two Chester-le-Street Town youngsters have been picked up by professional clubs after impressive starts to the season.

Daniel Graham and Daniel Newby have been excellent form while playing in the Fairs Software Tyneside Junior League having joined the Cestrians at the beginning of the season and their ability has not gone unnoticed.

Striker, Graham, 17, has signed a two-year youth team contract with Middlesbrough while Stockport have swooped for Newby, a midfielder.

Graham, from Felling, Gateshead, was a window fitter before attracting the attention of the Riverside outfit although several clubs, including Bolton Wanderers, Sunderland, Hartlepool United and Liverpool had shown an interest in the past.

Middlesbrough took him for a week's trial at the end of October and subsequently offered him a contract.

Newby, from Bowburn, County Durham attended Peterlee & Houghall Community College Football Academy but while Graham had had unsuccessful trials at other clubs, Stockport was Newby's first professional trial.

He played a key role in the club's successful F.A. Youth Cup campaign that ended with a narrow 2-1 defeat against Hartlepool.

Proud Chester-le-Street Town manager, Andrew Muxworthy, heaped praise on the pair, saying: "Dan Graham is the best non-league striker I have seen in his age group and he has all the attributes of a modern striker.

"Daniel Newby, on the other hand is a very strong, competitive and energetic midfield player. He is very good on and off the ball and is always trying to improve his game."

Having two players spotted by professional clubs at the same time is a coup for the Cestrians who, earlier this season had two players - Jonathan Taylor and Mark Adamson - named in an England Schoolboys squad.

Muxworthy said: "At Chester-le-Street we believe we give our juniors as good a non-league playing environment as they will get. When we sign players we tell them about the club, and we encourage them.

"We don't promise players trials, or County opportunities, because we can't do this. All we tell them is what we have done in the last year and what we hope we can help them to achieve for themselves.

"We do get a lot of scouts at games. I think there are more scouts out there doing a job than some people might think. The trouble for the players is that you cannot just have one good game in five, or when it suits you.

"You have to perform at your highest standard all the time, and for that, you need character and desire."