22 mins Charman header 1-0

25 mins Barlaser shot 2-0

Half time: Clarets 0 Magpies 2

48 mins Charman shot 3-0

64 mins Barlaser shot 4-0

Full time: Clarets 0 Magpies 4

Newcastle's U23s scored four times without reply to defeat Burnley in a Premier League Cup fixture at Stockport County's Edgeley Park on Thursday.

The game began in rain which continued throughout and did nothing to improve a heavy pitch that had hosted an FA Trophy tie less than 48 hours before. 

Playing in their black and white home kit, United took the lead on 22 minutes when a right wing cross from Jamie Sterry was headed in by Luke Charman.

And Sterry provided the assist for a second goal just three minutes later, cutting the ball back from the Newcastle right for birthday boy Dan Barlaser to shoot home via a deflection off a Burnley player.  

The Clarets came close to a reply five minutes before the interval, when Ntumba Massanka shot against a post from 10 yards out.

Three minutes into the second half, another voyage down the right by Sterry ended with a cross for Charman to sidefoot his second and our third.

And 3-0 became 4-0 on 64 minutes, Barlaser claiming his second of the game after taking a pass from substitute Lewis McNall and rounding the 'keeper.

Playing his first competitive game since March 2016 after recovering from injury, Newcastle goalkeeper Brendan Pearson was grateful to Owen Bailey for a goal-line clearance following a 79th minute corner. 

Pearson then made an excellent one-handed save to deny Christian N'Guessan from distance in the final moments of play.

At the other end meanwhile, McNall set up fellow substitute Yasin Ben El-Mhanni, but he managed to scuff his shot wide from point-blank range.

Victory saw United replace Burnley at the top of their group with nine points from four games and two to play: away to Swansea and at home to Colchester.

Eight group winners and eight runners-up progress to the knockout stages of the competition.

PS: As far as we can tell, this is United's first visit to Edgeley Park at any level since March 1938.

Thanks to GW