NEWCASTLE UNITED forward Adam Armstrong has revealed how a pep-talk from England captain Wayne Rooney inspired the national team’s younger generation to success.

Armstrong, along with Middlesbrough’s Harry Chapman, was part of the Under-18s brilliant 6-1 win over Switzerland and his two fabulous strikes took his tally to 19 goals in 24 games for his country.

The Newcastle youngster and the rest of Neil Dewsnip’s camp had the chance to chat with Rooney just 48 hours earlier, shortly before Rooney had also helped Roy Hodgson’s team to success over Lithuania at Wembley.

Armstrong, highly-rated at St James’ Park, has revealed how a player who used to be on a poster on his bedroom wall made him feel extra special.

The 18-year-old said: “I played against him at Old Trafford, and he said he liked the way that I always got across the defenders.

“He said that the Manchester United team had watched me in the clips before the game - that was a massive confidence booster for me to have someone like that say that.”

Armstrong also fired England’s only goal in a hard-fought win over Switzerland on Thursday.

But the Geordie goal-getter then carried that confidence in to the second game of the double-header at Walsall on Saturday to defeat the Swiss again.

“He came into our meeting and answered questions from all the lads and then I managed to speak with him one-on-one," Armstrong told the FA website.

“The lads were all getting photos with him and I just stayed behind after that, and the manager Neil Dewsnip asked if I could ask him a few questions about my game.

“I asked him what I can do for myself to improve as I try to play in the same way as him. He gave me loads of tips and advice, which is an unbelievable experience for me.

“Being such a young lad playing in the first-team, he told me that I always need to have confidence when I play and never be afraid to get my shots off.

“As a striker, he just said that I always need to have the belief to go again if it wasn’t happening for me and the only way to reach the top level is to continue working hard every day.”

Armstrong captained England at the Banks's Stadium on Saturday. He hit two to go with further goals from Taylor Moore, Tammy Abraham (two) and Dominic Solanke.