Newcastle United can count on young goalkeeper Jak Alnwick.

Gateshead goalkeeping coach Chris Porter worked with Alnwick during a loan spell at the International Stadium two years ago.

The youngster is in line for first team involvement as Toon face a keeper crisis. Porter told the Evening Chronicle: "Jak's a great lad and a fantastic goalkeeper.

"He was only at Gateshead for a short spell but while he was there you could tell he had what it takes to be a top keeper.

"He's very good technically, he would make such outrageous saves on the training ground that you'd be going 'How the bloody hell did he do that?'.

"He's a fantastic shot-stopper, and sometimes when people hear that they assume that it's just because a keeper's in the right place at the right time. But he was in that 'right' position too often to put down to luck.

"He's also a good communicator. He obviously had two experienced centre- backs in front of him in Ben Clark and James Curtis, but he wasn't afraid to tell them what's what when necessary.

"Jak's got a great attitude and worked hard at Gateshead. I know he's worked with top coaches at Newcastle, but he was always willing to take on board ideas I brought to our sessions.

"He wanted to learn, he wanted to get better.

"In the Conference, centre forwards like to put you in the back of the net but he dealt with that physicality too. His technique and timing, his judgement of the flight of a cross got him out of trouble before it arose."