Munda lauds team character after comeback win | OneFootball

United's second-string trailed inside five minutes at the Loughborough University Stadium following Zyan Blake's close-range finish before the visitors netted three times in the first-half courtesy of efforts from Johnny Emerson, Garang Kuol and Sean Neave.

Kyle McAdam halved the deficit for Forest to set up a nervy conclusion to the league contest but were able to hold firm to record maximum points and Munda praised the team's character in securing a third successive league win, boosting their play-off hopes in the process.

The Cowgate-born teenager, who signed his first professional contract with his boyhood club last summer, told newcastleunited.com: "It's been a good night for the team. A main aim of ours is getting into the play-offs and we have to keep looking forward but we feel like, as a team, we feel we are good enough to do that.

"We always have belief we can win, even if we go a goal down. We kept on going and, through good moments in the game, we were able to come through and get the win.

"After winning the first half, we knew Forest would come out faster and more fiery in the second but I felt we dealt with that well as a team. They had some chances but we defended well, being there for each other and then you had Aidan (Harris) making a big save at the end when we needed him. Those moments are important if we want to get a win."

Munda, who made his first-team debut for Eddie Howe's side during a pre-season friendly away at Hull City last summer, also expressed his delight in returning to competitive action at under-21 level for the first time since January's National League Cup clash against Gateshead after sustaining a hamstring injury.

Newcastle's youngsters can confirm their place in the Premier League 2 play-offs with a victory against Reading when they host their Royals counterparts at St. James' Park on Monday, 7th April (kick-off 7pm BST) and Munda is keen to make up for lost time by accruing a run of fixtures for the remainder of the 2024/25 season.

"I'm buzzing to be back," the central midfielder added. "I'd been out for ages so I really wanted to be back on the pitch and show what I can do, helping the team. I'm glad I could do that and playing the full 90 minutes was a boost.

"That's something I want to do, getting a good streak of games together and I want to continue playing full games because that will help me in the long-term. I'm happy with my performance but it's about keeping my head down and looking onto the next game.

"There's nothing better than playing at St. James' Park but we have to focus on getting the win. We can't get too carried away with playing at the stadium and we need to do the same job that we've done for the last few league games."