Newcastle United youngster Ben Parkinson is excited to play in Europe.
The talented forward, who is only 18, believes the UEFA Youth League will be a wonderful experience for the club’s young guns.
The Magpies’ youth side take on AC Milan, as the senior team prepare to face off against the same opponents.
He told nufc.co.uk: “It’s a massive game that we’re all looking forward to. Many of us haven’t been involved in a game like this before. Cathal (Heffernan) was involved in it with Milan last year but he’s just as excited as much as everyone else is. It’s a massive opportunity.
“To be the best, you’ve got to face the best. That’s the way I look at it. At the end of the day, you’ve got to show up against these teams and put up a fight, showing what you’re about. We’ve seen a bit of Milan on the clips and the way their first-team play. We’re trying to prepare ourselves for that.
“It’s a new experience for the majority of the squad, something we haven’t really had to do before. Last year, we had an international cup (Al Abtal Friendly Games) where we flew for a few of the games but it’s nothing quite like the Youth League. It’ll be a great experience that we’re all looking forward to.
“I was just excited when I saw the teams we’d be facing, both being a Newcastle fan and seeing the teams the first-team got but also a Newcastle player and having the chance to play against some of the big teams you wouldn’t otherwise play.”
