SHOLA Ameobi bagged a brace as a strong Newcastle United Reserve side ran-out 2-0 winners against local non-league outfit Newcastle Blue Star in front of 3,600 fans at Kingston Park.

Lee Clark included Michael Owen in his starting eleven as the striker made his comeback from a niggling thigh injury which kept him out of the Magpies 3-1 opening day victory at Bolton.

Brazilian defender Claudio Cacapa made his first appearance in black and white colours, while Kieron Dyer got a run-out in United's midfield.

But it was skipper Ameobi who stole the show, his first goal coming right on the stroke of half-time as he fired home from a narrow angle after being slipped in by Kazenga LuaLua.

And the 25-year-old frontman had his second just after the hour with a cool finish from inside the area after again being teed-up by young winger LuaLua.

Owen came through 60 minutes of Monday's game and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet, twice seeing efforts cleared off the line by former Magpies youngsters  - Ben Webster denying the England man in the opening period before Chris Carr got back in the nick of time to hack clear just after the break.

NUFC: Fraser Forster, Paul Huntington (Alex Francis, 77m), David Edgar, Matty Pattison, Peter Ramage, Claudio Cacapa, James Troisi (Patrick McLaughlin, 70m), Kieron Dyer (Jonny Godsmark 70m), Shola Ameobi (Ryan Donladson, 77m), Michael Owen (Darren Lough, 59m), Kazenga LuaLua (Shane Ferguson, 85m)
Subs not used: Callum Morris, Frank Wiafe Danquah, Mark Cook