Elias Sorensen cut an unhappy figure at Goodison Park after being dropped for the Premier League Cup final.
The Danish Under-21 international has netted 20 goals for the second string this season and, while he has endured a rough loan spell at Blackpool - where he was left on the sidelines - he was surprisingly omitted from the starting line-up against Everton Under-23s last night.
Sorensen was spotted having a pep talk with Toon coach Steve Harper just before the game at Goodison Park.
United boss Ben Dawson opted to start with Luke Charman in attack but Newcastle were unable to find a breakthough.
But even when Sorensen did come on after 54 minutes, the night turned from bad to worse for the youngster as the Toffees netted what proved to be the winner from a set-piece as Morgan Feeney headed home.
When asked if Sorensen had provided the desired effect after he was handed the chance to be an impact sub, Dawson told the Chronicle: "At that stage we were trying to change something.
"Whether that was movement or use his eye for the goal.
"But in the last 30-yards we struggled across the board.
"Not just in the first half, when Elias came on.
"The lads who started and finished just didn't do enough to unlock their defence."
Ben Dawson reflects after Newcastle United under-23s' narrow Premier League Cup defeat to Everton
Newcastle left Goodison Park after suffering a narrow defeat but Dawson hopes that his troops can use the experience as a positive experience for the future.
United also have a play-off final against Southampton to come before the season is over.
Dawson said: "The lads are massively disappointed but we have to forget about it and focus on the next one.
"It has become even more important now.
"In terms of the next game you'd like to think of the next game as a memory and they won't want to experience defeat again.
"We are looking ahead to the next five or 10 years and the first team get to a final.
"Some of our lads who played at Everton will know what the pitfalls are and what it feels like to get beat in one."
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