That features in this week's North East Notes, as does Newcastle boss Eddie Howe's response to the latest Elliot Anderson transfer claims.
And ahead of Sunderland's game against Everton on Monday night, David Moyes has his say on the Stadium of Light crowd and atmosphere.
MIDDLESBROUGH SIGN STRIKER AFTER SUCCESSFUL TRIAL
Middlesbrough are adding to their Under-21 ranks with the signing of teenage striker Layton Campbell, who has agreed to sign a professional deal at the club on the back of a successful trial.
Campbell is a former Newcastle United, Sunderland and Blackpool academy talent who joined Whitley Bay in the summer.
And the teenager has been in dazzling form for the Northern League Division One side, scoring 15 goals in 16 appearances.
That caught the attention of Boro , who handed the young striker a trial. And Campbell impressed and has earned himself a deal.
A Whitley Bay club statement said: "Still a teenager, Layton has shown tremendous ability since arriving at Hillheads in the summer, scoring 15 goals in 16 appearances.
"In the short time he has been at the club, he has become a favourite with the fans and has understandably attracted interest from a number of higher ranked clubs."
Whitley Bay manager Jay Bates said: "We wish him all the very best in his next endeavour in the professional game."
Campbell will initially link-up with Boro's Under-21s.
Boro have had success signing players from non-league in the past, with Lewis Wing establishing himself as a key player in the first team after arriving from Shildon. He now captains Reading.
Isaiah Jones was spotted in the London non-league scene and went on to make more than 100 Championship appearances.
Goalkeeper Owen Foster joined from Hull in the summer after a successful trial.
RECOMMENDED READING:
NEWCASTLE TRANSFER THAT WON'T HAPPEN IN JANUARY
It was only last month that Eddie Howe admitted he would "love" to have Elliot Anderson back at Newcastle.
And that was followed by fresh reports this week claiming the Magpies and Manchester United are both showing an interest in the Nottingham Forest midfielder.
But Forest, say Sky, would be looking for a fee between £100m and £120m and that, says Howe, is not the type of money Newcastle will be forking out in January.
"Sentiment never comes into it because it's always about finances," said Howe this week when he was asked about the fresh Anderson reports.
"We haven't had any discussions on the January window. We're too focused on the amount of games we have to come.
"Certainly in terms of paying fees like that, I'm not sure we're going to be in a position to do that in January. And I'm talking without any knowledge. It's not really a window where big fees are usually paid.
"There's always a long-term management of PSR and our financial situation, and we can't let one transfer unbalance that."
Newcastle sold Anderson last summer as they scrambled desperately to avoid being punished for breaching PSR regulations.
Howe said last month: "It didn't sit right with me then, doesn't sit right with me today that we as a football club were forced to make a decision that we didn't want to make, and a player that had given everything to rise through the ranks here to try to play for Newcastle, that was ended by financial restrictions. But it's happened, and we wish Elliot nothing but success."
MOYES COMMENTS ON SUNDERLAND FANS AS EVERTON 'KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT'
Having managed Sunderland in the past, David Moyes of course knows what to expect at the Stadium of Light on Monday - though the Scot never saw the Black Cats' home as buoyant as it is right now when he was in charge!
And Moyes says his players are braced for a "raucous" atmosphere on Wearside.
Everton opened their Premier League campaign this season away at Leeds United and struggled to get a grip of the game in what was a fervent Elland Road atmosphere.
And although Everton lost to Leeds, Moyes thinks that experience can aid his side on Monday night.
“I think we'll go into Sunderland knowing there will be that raucous crowd on a Monday night," he said.
“They've just come back from a great victory against Chelsea, so we'd have to expect that and we will do.
“Our form at the start of this season away from home has not been as good as we'd have liked.
“But when you think that we've been away to Man City and we've been away to Liverpool, I think you've got to wait till there's probably a bigger sample size before we look at that.
“We have to go to Sunderland and believe that we can pick up the points.”