Half-time report: Ranger returns with goal for Newcastle U21s

Nile Ranger made his long-awaited return for Newcastle in their U21 Wear-Tyne derby at Sunderland tonight, and marked the occasion with a well-taken goal.

Ranger, who had not made an appearance in the black-and-white of Newcastle for eight months since a reserves outing against Chelsea, impressed early on and did not take long to open the scoring.

The striker gave Newcastle the lead after being played in by Bradden Inman on eight minutes. He coolly slotted the ball past home keeper Jordan Pickford.

Ranger almost doubled the lead five minutes later, but his cross-cum-shot went agonisingly over.

Inman later had a decent chance saved by Pickford. Sunderland went down the other end of the pitch and pegged Newcastle back on 19 minutes, with England U21 international Connor Wickham on hand to slide home a cross from Roarie Deacon.

Newcastle skipper Curtis Good could have regained the lead for the visitors after the ball fell to him following a corner, but his powerful shot was straight at Pickford, who parried it away.

In the 36th minute, the Magpies did retake the lead.

The ball fell to the lively Inman just inside the Sunderland box after the home side failed to clear following a Mehdi Abeid effort, and Inman's subsequent shot deflected into the corner of Pikcford's goal.