Capital One Cup: Alan Pardew praises homegrown Newcastle duo after victory over Leeds United

Paul Dummett and Sammy Ameobi come in for praise after 2-0 win

Newcastle United's French striker Yoan Gouffran (C) celebrates scoring a goal against Leeds (GETTY IMAGES)

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew hailed the emergence of two potential stars of the future after seeing Paul Dummett and Sammy Ameobi answer his call to arms.

Pardew had challenged the pair to prove they were worthy of inclusion in his first team plans by naming them in his starting line-up for Wednesday night's Capital One Cup third round tie against Leeds.

They provided the perfect response when full-back Dummett, who celebrated his 22nd birthday on Thursday, and 21-year-old midfielder Ameobi combined to set up Papiss Cisse for the 31st-minute opener.

Ameobi doubled the dose by feeding Yoan Gouffran for the 67th-minute strike which secured the 2-0 victory and left Pardew delighted.

The 52-year-old said: "I don't really need to talk it up, I think it spoke for itself. The real highlight was obviously Dummett and Sammy.

"We have had Paul since he was nine, we have had Sammy since he was 14.

"I bumped into a lady today when I was popping out for my lunch and she said, 'You are looking after my nine-year-old at the moment'. I said, 'Well, there is a route to the first team'. There's nothing better than having local players on the pitch and we are really pushing those two to see if they can crack a regular first team spot.

"They were terrific tonight and I am pleased for them both."

However, Pardew insisted the duo could not afford to rest on their laurels as he prepared to re-install his big guns for Monday night's league trip to Everton.

He said: "When you are talking about world footballers coming to this club and to all Premier League clubs, it's very, very difficult, as we all know, for local players to get into the team.

"Those two have done really well, but they have got to push on now to the next level."

The tie proved more tricky than the scoreline suggests with Leeds almost shocking their hosts early on when Ross McCormack saw a fifth-minute chip come back off the bar with keeper Tim Krul beaten.

However, as the game wore on, Newcastle gained the upper hand and were good value for their half-time lead, which came courtesy of Cisse's first goal since April 11 and ended a run of 11 barren games.

Gouffran's expert turn and sweet strike made sure to book the Magpies a fourth round home clash with Manchester City.

Pardew said with a smile: "Well, it's a home tie. I am 100 per cent at home in the cup."

Leeds manager Brian McDermott was left to reflect on what might have been after insisting his side should have had a penalty at 1-0 following a coming together between Fabricio Coloccini and Matt Smith.

He said: "To not get the penalty was galling, but that's how it is sometimes. But we were right in the game, we felt, all the way until the second goal, and the second goal kills you.

"But they have got a good side here and they have got a good manager, and they played some good stuff. But so did we."

PA