A YOUTHFUL Newcastle reserves side slumped to a 4-0 defeat to Everton at the club's Darsley Park training complex this afternoon.

Davide Santon, who was one of the few players with first-team experience, played for the opening 75 minutes, but was unable to prevent the Magpies' second string from slumping to a heavy defeat to an Everton side that featured the likes of Ross Barkley, Apostolos Vellios and Magaye Gueye.

Newcastle handed a reserves debut to young midfielder Ben Sayer, but fell behind in the 25th minute when Conor McAleny surprised Rob Elliot with a 30-yard lob.

Santon went close from distance, but Everton doubled their lead before the break as Vellios forced home Adam Forshaw's free-kick from close range.

The Greek striker scored again in the 72nd minute, stabbing home the rebound after Elliot saved from McAleny, and the rout was complete when Forshaw drilled home with 12 minutes left.

Reserve-team boss Willie Donachie said: “There's a lot of players who are either injured or who we just can't have at the moment, so we are playing a very young and inexperienced team, but it is still good experience for them even if they are having a tough time.”

Newcastle reserves: Elliot, Nicholson, Streete, Kadar, Santon (Riley 75), Richardson, Sayer (Campbell 46), Inman, Adjei (Miele 62), Edmundsson, Vuckic.