YOUNG Blackburn Rovers midfielder Bradley Bauress is anticipating a stern test in tonight’s U21s Premier League Cup quarter-final clash with Newcastle United (7pm).

Bauress booked Rovers’ place in the last eight with a dramatic late winner in the thrilling 3-2 triumph over Aston Villa at Leigh Sports Village last Tuesday.

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Their reward is a trip to St James’ Park to face an in-form Newcastle side that defeated Rovers 3-1 when the teams clashed in the U21s Premier League last month.

With the Tynesiders currently top of Division Two and set to start fit-again first-team star Jonas Gutierrez following his recovery from testicular cancer, Eric Kinder’s young side are likely to have their work cut out.

But after recording a first win in four months when knocking out Villa, Rovers travel to the North East in high spirits as they aim to secure a semi-final place.

The versatile Bauress said: “Newcastle are a very good team so it’s going to be a really tough test up there.

“They gave us a good run out when we played them earlier in the season and beat us 3-1, so we know it’s not going to be easy.

“Hopefully we can perform at our best because we want to go far in the cup – we’d all be made-up if we can win it.

“It was nice to get a goal against Villa because I hadn’t scored for a while.

“I was already thinking about extra-time but the ball came over and I managed to nip in and fire into the net.

“It was what we deserved because we played well.

“We needed that win because it had been a while and it was starting to play on the boys’ minds.”

Also on the scoresheet that night was Conor Mahoney, who netted Rovers’ opening goal with a clinical left-footed drive.

The Blackburn-born winger, who became Rovers’ third youngest-ever player when he made his first-team debut against Manchester City last January, is hoping for a repeat of the Villa performance.

Mahoney said: “It was a superb display against Aston Villa and a thoroughly deserved result.

“We’d had a few really tough weeks where we hadn’t picked up the results we wanted.

“The manager simply told us to give it everything and, thankfully, we managed to get the win.

“It was nice to get on the scoresheet, but it was more of a relief really as we dominated the first half and should have been two or three ahead.

“Tommy Spurr’s whipped a ball in which the defender has miscued and it’s come to me inside the box.

“I just thought, ‘I might as well hit it’ and luckily my shot went in.

“I’ve definitely progressed since I’ve been at Rovers, particularly on the physical and defensive sides of my game.

“I’m also better attacking wise, and have scored a few goals this season but I like to assist more than score.

“I’m enjoying playing and just need to keep working hard on improving my performances.”