I was Newcastle's youngest European debutant - but there is life after United

Long-serving goalkeeper Max Thompson, promising defender Ciaran Thompson and former Manchester City prospect Alfie Harrison head a list of seven academy prospects that will officially depart Newcastle when their contracts come to a close at the end of this month.

Goalkeeping duo Adam Harrison and James Taylor, winger Darren Palmer, full-back Thomas Bryant and forward Joe Brayson, son of former Magpies striker Paul Brayson, will also look for a new club throughout the summer months.

Campbell knows all about the process of working through the academy system after spending the early years of his career within the United youth setup before making a historic first senior appearance alongside the likes of Papiss Cisse, Jonas Gutierrez and Steve Harper in a Europa League tie against Atromitos in August 2012.

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The Geordie forward went on to make five senior appearances with the last coming on the final day of the 2012/13 season when he came on as a substitute during the closing stages of a home defeat against Arsenal.

Since departing his boyhood club to join Notts County during the summer of 2015 after spending time on loan at Carlisle United, Fleetwood Town, Hartlepool United and Gateshead, Campbell has forged a senior career in the top levels of the non-league game and in the EFL.

After leaving Hartlepool recently, the 31-year-old has made over 400 career appearances and believes there is no reason why the current crop of Magpies youngsters can’t thrive in the aftermath of their release.

He told Chronicle Live: “There will be a lot of opportunities out there for them - but the way the lads will feel right now will be as if it’s the end of the world. When you’ve been at Newcastle, you see what it’s about, you see the facilities and you get a glimpse into what could be your future, it is difficult when you get that decision that you won’t be kept on.

“But with the academy the way it is in this day and age, the coaching is unbelievable, the pitches are outstanding and the players are such high quality so there will be opportunities out there for them now.

“It’s just getting their head around maybe dropping down to facilities that aren’t the same and learning the game again because it’s a completely different sport. I found that when I went to Notts County, it’s like starting all over again.

“But you fall back on that mindset, that technical ability you’ve had at Newcastle and it can make you stand out a little bit more - it’s just getting used to the physical side of the game at that level.”

Campbell’s permanent move to Notts County during the summer of 2015 brought down the curtain on a frustrating end to his career with Newcastle after he gradually slipped out of the first-team picture.

However, playing alongside the likes of ex-Magpies midfielder Alan Smith and former Manchester United goalkeeper Roy Carroll at Meadow Lane gave an insight into what was required to forge a career at senior level.

The move, in Campbell’s own words, gave him a ‘feel of what being a professional footballer was all about’ - and he insisted youngsters in the game can go through a similar process if they show the right attitude over the coming weeks and months.

“For me, leaving Newcastle permanently, was probably the best thing that could have happened to me,” he explained.

“I’d been out on loan five times before I turned 20 and it wasn’t until I got to Notts County, got signed and settled, that I knew my career had started.

“I played just shy of 100 games in my two years there and I loved it. You got from no first-team football to 100 game in two years and you get a feel of what being a professional footballer is all about.

“They wouldn’t be at Newcastle if the weren’t technically right, it’s the attitude that has to come to the fore now.

“It may feel like the end of the world at this point in time- but it’s about taking the opportunities that fall their way.”