Campbell Set For Birthday Treat - His Debut!

Last updated : 17 September 2010 By Footy Mad - Editor

Campbell, who will celebrate his 35th birthday on Saturday when the Magpies visit Everton, is tipped to make his debut at Goodison.

The former Arsenal star has played 45 minutes for the second string against Sunderland and an hour against Liverpool as he attempts to reach full match fitness.

However, he couldn't stop Peter Beardsley's reserve-team going down 3-2 to Chelsea, due to a controversial injury-time penalty from Adam Philip that sealed the points for Steve Holland's visiting side.

Campbell played 78 minutes of the Premier Reserve League clash, and he doesn't want to spend his birthday sat on the bench at Goodison Park on Saturday.

The Toon reserve-team side started well in front of a crowd of 3,700, with Ryan Donaldson scoring a stunning goal from 20 yards with just two minutes on the clock.

However, Chelsea fought back, and Milan Lalkovic beat Tim Krul just past the half hour mark to level the scores.

Lalkovic struck again before the break, but United clawed their way back into the game in the second-half, and Haris Vuckic kept his cool to finish off a move which owed everything to a powerful run down the left from Nile Ranger.

However, Beardsley's side couldn't conjure up another goal, and the referee pointed to the spot when Philip went to ground after goalkeeper Tim Krul dived at his feet as he raced into the box.

Philip got up and converted the spot kick to claim all three points for Chelsea.

NEWCASTLE UNITED: Krul; Newton, Campbell (Dummett, 79), Grieve, Kadar, Vuckic, Donaldson, McLaughlin ((McDermott, 63), Ferguson (Airey, 75); Edmundsson, Ranger. Subs not used: Soderberg, Henderson.