1–1 draw against Everton. He later made two more appearances by the end of the 2000–01 season. At the end of the 2000–01 season, Caldwell went on to make nine appearances in all competitions. At the start of the 2001–02 season, Caldwell was featured three times in Newcastle United's matches in the UEFA Intertoto Cup and once set up a goal, in a 4–0 win against Lokeren on 14 July 2001. Due to lack of first team football opportunities, he was loaned out to Blackpool on a month's loan. Caldwell made his debut for the club, starting the whole game, in a 2–1 win against Colchester United on 13 October 2001. In a follow–up match, he scored his first career goal, against Stoke City in the Football League Trophy, winning 3–2. Caldwell made a total of six appearances for Blackpool before returning to his parent club a month later. Shortly after, Caldwell was loaned out to Bradford City on a month's loan in December 2001. He made his debut for the club, starting the whole game, in a 3–1 win against Rotherham United on 8 December 2001. Since making his debut for Bradford City, Caldwell quickly became a first team regular for the side for the next two months there and had his loan spell extended at the club along the way. His loan spell at Bradford City ended in late–January, as he made nine appearances for the side. At the start of the 2002–03 season, Caldwell continued to find his first team opportunities limited at Newcastle United, due to competitions in the central defence, with Manager Robson challenging him to fight for his first team place at the club. It wasn't until on 2 November 2002 when he was called up to the first team and made his first appearance of the season, coming against Middlesbrough in the league and scored his first goal of the season, in a 2–0 win. Caldwell then made his UEFA Champions League debut against Inter Milan on 27 November 2002, coming on as an 86th-minute substitute, as Newcastle United lost 4–1. He then made six more starts for the club by the end of the year. Because of injuries to Andy O'Brien and Titus Bramble, Caldwell appeared three times at the beginning of January, including helping Newcastle United keep two consecutive clean sheets. However, he was dropped from the first team for the