Steve Bruce has named five youngsters in his squad until the end of the season - as cover for his first-team stars.
Tom Allan, Daniel Barlaser, Dan Langley, Kell Watts and Jack Young are all eligible to play in remaining Premier League fixtures should the need rise and with nine games in the Premier League plus the FA Cup quarter-final up and coming, there could strain on Bruce's roster.
Although both Watts and Barlaser are cup-tied after loan stints at Stevenage and Rotherham respectively.
As reported by Chronicle Live this month, the youngsters were placed on standby and told to be ready for possible action rather than switching to holiday mode.
First team coach Steve Harper, speaking to club TV, said today: "We brought in five of the young lads just because of the sheer volume of games.
"It's just to pad out the numbers in the training squad really. I have worked with four of them in the Under-23s last season.
"Dan Barlaser has come in on a high.
"It's important they keep moving forward."
The Premier League had toyed with extending the squad spaces which would have allowed Paul Dummett to be handed his number back, but in the end opted against it.
FIFA rules which have resulted in loan players being permitted to play for a third club in the 2019/20 season resulted in Watts getting his place back.
