Apologies for the delay in getting my latest blog up but the week of the youth cup was absolutely manic!

The last fortnight has seen us working towards undoubtedly our biggest game of the season which will take place on Thursday night at St James’ Park, I am of course referring to our FA Youth Cup Quarter Final against Crystal Palace.

Last week the focus was very much on preparation for our trip to Upton Park to play against West Ham United in the Youth Cup. Monday was spent looking at the importance of keeping possession and maintaining a solid shape when trying to win the ball back.

With our current coach Kenny unavailable following surgery, Willie (Assistant Academy Manager) took us for training and the week started with the agonising Bleep Test!

Last Monday Morning I arrived at the training ground to be greeted with the news that I was to be training with the reserve team.

As I alluded to in my last blog the first part of last week was very much orientated to our FA Youth Cup tie at Reading.

Back in last Monday training proved to be quite tough because unlike the First team the Academy lads like myself are given time off over Christmas and the New Year.

Monday proved to be a full day of tuition – after two hours of college work which sits alongside our football training we found ourselves in with the coaches and performances analysts looking at video footage of our recent performance against Sunderland!

Monday proved to be a full day of tuition – after 2 hours of college work which sits alongside our football training we found ourselves in with the coaches and performances analysts looking at video footage of our recent performance against Sunderland!

With the FA Youth Cup game approaching on Wednesday we had a light session to start the week – which I think was designed to ensure that we could peak physically for Wednesday’s match against Doncaster Rovers.

I felt really tired on Monday which is a bit of a mystery to me really because I’ve had a fairly relaxed and restful weekend after the trip to Leeds on Saturday.

It’s safe to say this has been the best Monday training session ever! There were only a few of us actually out training because the Reserves had included a number of youngsters in their ranks and while I’d like to have been involved I wouldn’t have missed training today for the world.

We were back in training on Monday and everyone felt fresh and it was reflected in training. We done some attacking drills, where we had to break away and get at the defenders quickly.

Match Day
Academy Match: Huddersfield Town v Newcastle United

Our match with Huddersfield Town saw us produce our best display of the campaign so far which I suppose is reflected in the result, a 6–0 victory.

Monday followed the same ritual as usual, College followed by training. The session this week was 1 v 1 and 2 v 2 stuff with attackers and defenders reversing their role as soon as the play had broken down or a shot had been taken by the attacking player.

Monday started with college work and meant that training was in the afternoon which gives everyone who played on Saturday some extra time for their body to recover.

Back in on Monday morning and I was excited to be out on the training pitch once again which showed in the session. I was full of energy and buzzing it’s just so frustrating to not be out on the pitch.

After the game against West Bromwich Albion I felt a re-occurrence of a groin problem that has previously kept me out of action.

After our recent lack of goal scoring prowess which I documented in my last blog, it came as no surprise, that, as predicted last week’s training schedule concentrated on attacking and finishing

There hasn’t been much going on with me in the last few days in terms of football, this is due to a groin injury I picked up after Tuesday’s game against Middlesbrough.

Since this is my first blog, I’ll start by introducing myself. My name is Patrick Nzuzi, I’m 16 and I’m currently a first year Apprentice at the Newcastle United Academy.