"It was my dream" - Vakhtang Salia opens up after Newcastle derby winner

Vakhtang Salia says he fulfilled a dream by scoring against Sunderland, having been told about the rivalry as soon as he arrived at Newcastle.

The Georgian forward headed the winner in Monday night's 3-2 Under-21 derby victory at St James' Park, and his reaction afterwards showed how much the occasion meant to him.

Salia: "It was my dream to score against them"

Speaking to Dominic Scurr of the Shields Gazette after the match, Salia explained that beating Sunderland had quickly become a personal ambition:

"As soon as I came here, I was told that the biggest game and the biggest rival was Sunderland. It was my dream to score against them and I think I fulfilled that.

"It was emotional and I thank everyone who supported us and believed in us, and I think the best supporters are here in Newcastle."

There were 5,100 inside St James' Park for the game, with Newcastle twice having to come from behind before Salia met Kyle Fitzgerald's cross with five minutes remaining. It was his fifth goal of the season at Under-21 level and secured the side's first Premier League 2 win of the campaign.

Asked about the goal itself, he added:

"It took a while [for the ball to go in] for me too and I'm very pleased it went in.

"We tried to do our best in the game and we try to win all the games, but this goal and this win was the most important for us."

For a young lad who has come over from Georgia, that's a lovely moment to have so early in his Newcastle career. A late winner against Sunderland at the Gallowgate End takes some beating, and it's good to hear how much he wanted it.