Lukasz Kominiak and Aleksander Solli, both 18, played for the reserves in last night's goalless draw against Newcastle Blue Star.

First-team boss Kevin Keegan was at Kingston Park, along with assistants Chris Hughton and Terry McDermott, to make a personal check on the duo.

Kominiak is with Polish side Wisla Krakow, while Solli is with Norwegian second division club Løv-Ham.

The game was abandoned with just over ten minutes left amid a huge deluge, but second string coach Adam Sadler believes it was a useful exercise, and he was pleased with how Kominiak, a left-back, and Solli, a centre-half, coped with the atrocious conditions.

Sadler aid: "The last have only been in the country a matter of hours, and they performed well.

"It's difficult for anybody at any level going to a club and having to get straight into it in tough conditions.

"I thought they coped really well, and I was pleased with them.

"This was a perfect opportunity for them, because we had a game arranged to get them exposed a bit to what it's like playing English football against a decent senior side. There was plenty to test them.

"We've got them for a couple more days, and we'll take it from there."

Kominiak – a Poland youth international – had a trial at Liverpool last season. Solli has also represented his country.