Why Seydou Doumbia's Newcastle debut had to be cut short by Peter Beardsley

Doumbia, signed on a half-season loan from AS Roma last week, played 45 minutes of last night’s 2-1 Under-21 Premier League defeat to Stoke City.

Head coach Steve McClaren was at St James’s Park to run the rule over the striker ahead of Saturday’s Premier League game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Doumbia’s Ivory Coast team-mate Cheick Tiote, and new United colleagues Jonjo Shelvey and Paul Dummett, were also among the 1,431 crowd. United, however, struggled to get the ball to Doumbia, having harshly had defender Jamie Sterry sent off in the 10th minute.

Football development manager Peter Beardsley said: “We were going to give him more (time on the pitch), but we couldn’t get the ball to him.

“Not in a selfish way, but he might benefit more than training, and to be fair on him he was as good as gold.

“He has been since he walked in – a smiley, happy person. He trained with us on Sunday for the first time, as in with my group, and he was outstanding I have to say. I’m excited by him.”

Doumbia – who had been on loan at CSKA Moscow before his move to Tyneside – had a low-key introduction to English football.

The 28-year-old wasn’t able to test visiting goalkeeper Daniel Gyollai during his time on the pitch. Stoke, coached by former Newcastle midfielder Glyn Hodges, took the lead through a 10th-minute Dominic Telford penalty.

Referee Andrew Miller had pointed to the spot after Sterry challenged Oliver Shenton.

But United, captained by defender Jamaal Lascelles, levelled from the penalty spot themselves after Callum Roberts was felled by Eddy Lecygne in the 21st minute. Dan Barlaser converted the spot-kick.

Lewis Banks claimed all three points for Stoke – who had been kept at bay by goalkeeper Karl Darlow – with a fierce effort in the 77th minute.

NEWCASTLE UNITED: Darlow, Sterry, Gibson, Barlaser, Lascelles, Williamson, C Smith (L Smith, 46), Longstaff, Doumbia (McNall, 46), Roberts, Laidler (Adu-Peprah, 81).