Emerson praises team morale in Toffees fightback | OneFootball

The young Magpies fell behind in the first-half at Whitley Park following Omari Benjamin's close-range strike before Martin Sherif's penalty doubled the Toffees' advantage shortly after the restart.

Newcastle's second-string, however, staged a commendable fightback as Emerson netted his first goal in the Premier League 2, firing home from Alfie Harrison's impressive pass, before Ellis Stanton's fierce strike in the closing stages rescued a point for Diarmuid O'Carroll's side.

Emerson, who signed his first professional contract with the Magpies last summer, told newcastleunited.com: "Our team morale was key. At half-time, we knew we weren't as good as what we could've been so it was more disappointment in how we performed during the first half.

"We wanted to put it right because we've been doing well in the league and get into the play-off spots. That's the goal and that's what made us push on. We didn't start as well as we wanted to.

"We had to adapt and going two goals down wasn't ideal but the subs made a difference, sharpening us up, and gave us that extra little boost. We managed to stick together, score two goals and we were unlucky not to win at the end."

Emerson, a representative of Scotland at under-19 level, expressed his delight in getting his name on the scoresheet and is keen to add to his tally during the remainder of the 2024/25 season.

The Carlisle-born winger, who made his first-team debut for Eddie Howe's side during a pre-season friendly win away at Hull City in July 2024, is determined to retain his place in the starting XI for United's second-string.

"I'm very pleased to get my first goal in the Premier League 2," the 19-year-old added. "Recently, my performances have been good but it's the goals and assists which get noticed. With the position I play in, I need to score and assist more regularly to push on and get to that next level. I'm very happy to get the goal and play a part in the second goal.

"That's the quality we have as a team and it's good to show that. We've got a lot of good players in the squad. Good players are going out on loan but there's players who are just as good coming in to replace them, with younger lads who are hungry.

"You don't want to lose your place to them so it motivates everyone to perform better. The younger players did really well when they came on tonight."