The final pre-season friendly ahead of next week’s opening League 1 clash against Doncaster, Nathan Clemmitt and Tom Wilcox are in line for their first team debuts alongside fellow Rockets, Alex Donaghy and David Weetman.

Clemmitt is an England Youth international who recently stepped up to the U19s Thunder Academy. Wilcox has been part of that set up for two years and is also part of the squad for current national university champions, Northumbria University.

Joining Clemmitt up front in the pack is David Weetman who continues to make inroads in the first team squad after earning a contract last season having graduated from the Academy.

And in the backs, Wilcox will line up alongside Alex Donaghy, a former England U15 international who made an impressive debut two weeks ago against Widnes Vikings.

“It’s great for the boys, and great for the club” said Cramlington Chairman, Jeff Ball.

“For all the players involved and their families, days like Sunday will be a little bit of family history.

That is what it is all about for us. It is just fantastic to see once again the pathway that exists between the community game and I’m sure we will see there names even more this season."

Also included within the squad-list is new signing Keal Carlile who will make his debut after joining from Featherstone Rovers at the start of this season. In total there are eight Newcastle Thunder academy players who have rose through all the ranks to feature in this weekend’s squad.

Alex Donaghy is joined by Rory Nettleton, both receiving their second call up for the first team with Anthony Dyne, Cai Ellis, Dan White and James McGurk the remaining academy players that will all be making their debut in a game that will provide them vital experience in their player development.

Newcastle Thunder squad
v Oldham RLFC – Sunday 3rd February KO 3pm
Alex Clegg, Alex Donaghy, Anthony Dyne, Arron Ollett, Cai Ellis, Conor Clayton, Conor Fitzsimmons, Dan White, David Weetman, James McGurk, Jared Blanke, Jed Charlton, Joe Brown, Keal Carlile, Liam Richmond, Nathan Clemmitt, Niall Sidney, Rhys Clarke, Rory Nettleton, Tom Wilcox, Tyler Craig