Shahar bidding to bounce back against Benfica | OneFootball

The Toon teenagers face the Portuguese outfit, who won the competition in 2021/22, at Whitley Park and will be targeting a positive result in order to boost their hopes of progressing into the knockout stages, with the top 22 sides advancing into the Round of 32 stage.

Despite defeats against FC Barcelona and Union Saint-Gilloise, Shahar is hopeful Newcastle's youngsters can take inspiration from their previous Youth League campaign two seasons ago, which saw the Toon teenagers lose their opening three matches before recording seven points from their final three fixtures against Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan.

The teenage-right-back, a representative of England at under-19 level, told newcastleunited.com: ""Hopefully, we can do similar and maybe even better than last time. Sometimes, we can underestimate ourselves and overestimate the opposition and, later on in the competition, we stopped doing that and then slowly built upon our own game.

"They're really enjoyable games to be involved in as you play teams you don't usually face throughout the season. It's always good to get the opportunity to play against foreign teams and all of the lads are looking forward to it.

"We've lost the first two games but there's still a good spirit with the under-19s team and we're due a win so, hopefully, the next game will be that.

"It was a difficult game [against Union Saint-Gilloise]. They had a decent crowd and I feel we didn't play to the best of our ability but there's always a chance to improve in this competition. There is a few games left and we can go far so we need to keep pushing."

Shahar has enjoyed a bright start to the season after featuring for Newcastle's under-21s side as well as making his full debut for England at under-19 level last month.

The promising defender, who made his first-team debut as a late substitute during Newcastle's Sela Cup clash against Atlético Madrid at St. James' Park last summer, also expressed his delight in captaining United's under-19s in their opening Youth League matches and is aiming to continue his steady progression through the Magpies' youth ranks.

He added: "It's a positive to be captain in such a big competition and it feels like I have a big responsibility for the team but I enjoy it. It's good for me and helps to get others involved in the game. I look forward to it in every game.

"It shows I've made progression and, as a whole, my game has got better. Being a younger player back then, you look up to the older ones and, hopefully, the younger ones will now look up to me and I can try to give them information and get good results.

"I feel like I've had a very good start to the season. I've been away with England Under-19s as well as playing for the under-21s and in the Youth League. It's a good games programme to be involved in at my age and I feel I'm developing at the highest level I can. I'm happy with that and I want to keep pushing on."

Admission for Newcastle United Under-19s' 2025/26 UEFA Youth League clash at home to S.L. Benfica is priced at £5 adults and £2 for under-18s and tickets can be purchased online at book.newcastleunited.com.

Please note there will be no tickets available on the gate and MUST be purchased in advance of the match.