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2017/18:
Deepdale draw

Preston  1  Newcastle  1



Aleksandar Mitrovic got another goal at Deepdale but Rafa Benitez's Premier League side were held by their Championship opponents on Saturday afternoon.

Mitro had bagged the two goals that secured three points here last season and he pounced once again to give United an eighth minute lead but Tom Barkhuizen equalised for Preston on 33 minutes.

There were debut appearances for Jacob Murphy and Javier Manquillo and the blue away kit had its maiden first team unveiling but there was little to note from a low key friendly.

Mitrovic's opener followed a cross from Rolando Aa rons that was cleared to the edge of the box where Paul Dummett ran onto it and his curling effort was palmed out to the Serb forward who tucked it past Chris Maxwell.

Siem de Jong had already gone close with a shot that was tipped over in the second minute as United attacked the home end.

Mitro hit the post in the 27th minute after chesting down a corner and firing across goal but six minutes later Florian Lejeune failed to head clear a cross from the left and Barkhuizen volleyed in from six yards.

Chancel  Mbemba did well to unsettle Jordan Hugill at the back post as Preston threatened to take the lead.

With no fewer than eight substitutions at half-time, one of them, Dwight Gayle, was close to scoring twice in a minute as his first time shot was saved and then he headed onto the roof of the net.

De Jong had another effort tipped over on the hour after Jack Colback and Murphy combined to set up the Dutchman but that was the nearest United came to finding a winner.

With no obvious injuries, three goalkeepers were used and all of the named substitutes got off the bench at some point in the second half and there were many positional changes throughout the game.

Mbemba started the game at right back, Murphy played down the right and then left wings, Ciaran Clark was at left back, then centre back while Manquillo played down the right in front of DeAndre Yedlin, while Callum Roberts filled ended up at left back.

Full report to follow.

Team: Elliot (Darlow 46 [Woodman 70]), Dummett (Clark 46), Mbemba, Lejeune (Manquillo 76), Hanley (Yedlin 46), Shelvey (Colback 46), Diame (Hayden 46), De Jong (Roberts 62), Aarons (Murphy 46), Atsu (Perez 46), Mitrovic (Gayle 46).
Subs: All used.

Goal: Mitrovic 8.

PNEFC: Maxwell, Vermijl, Cunningham, Pearson, Browne (Doyle 58), Hugill (Harrop 58), Johnson (Pringle 83), Davies, Huntington, Barkhuizen, Robinson (Horgan 67).
Subs n/u: Hudson, Boyle, Grimshaw, Spurr, Meulensteen, Earl.

Goal: Barkhuizen 33.

Crowd: 7,380 with around 3,000 away fans.

Referee: Jon Moss (W.Yorkshire)

Stats: 

Numbers worn today (plenty can change before August 13th) were as follows:
Jacob Murphy 7
Javier Manquillo 12
Callum Roberts 46 (he wore 44 at Leicester in the FA Cup in 2015)
Freddie Woodman tbc

Mitrovic made it three goals from his last two visits to Deepdale to add to the two he bagged against the Lilywhites at St. James' in the League Cup. He missed out in the 4-1 promotion-clincher despite playing the full game.

North End became familiar opponents for United last season, with a 2-1 Championship victory there last October coming just days after our 6-0 win on Tyneside in a League Cup tie. 

And a 4-1 success at Gallowgate in April officially confirmed our return to the Premier League.

U23s:
Heed headed off



Gateshead  0  Newcastle U23s  3

United's U23 side were in action over the River Tyne, facing Gateshead at the International Stadium and won 3-0 thanks to gaols from Yasin Ben El-Mhanni, Victor Fernandez and Dan Ward.

El-Mhanni opened the scoring in the 11th minute and Fernandez made it 2-0 a minute before half-time with a fine finish.

Dan Ward came on after the break and got United's third just before the hour and despite some late home pressure, Peter Beardsley's side held firm.

Report to follow.

Team: Harker (Huuhtanen 70), Williams (Newberry 57), Gillesphey (Cameron 57), Hunter (Spooner 66), Good (O'Connor 46), Findlay (Yarney 57), El-Mhanni (Bailey 66), Barlaser (Sangare 66), Toney (McNall 66), L.Smith (Charman 57), Fernandez (Ward 46).
Subs: All used.

GFC: Montgomery, Vassell (York 46), Barrow (Green 46), Kerr, Byrne, Fyfield (Horsfall 63), Tinkler (O'Donnell 65), Johnson (Mellish 46), Preston (Burrow 46), McLaughlin (White 65), Penn (Peniket 46).
Subs n/u: Hanford, Burns.

Crowd: 622 or 672 (tbc).

PS - another pre-season fixture has been confirmed for the U23s. They will visit Whitley Bay's Hillheads ground this Tuesday, 25th July. Kick-off is 7pm. Admission is £6 adults, £4 concessions.

Incoming:
Another JM acquired

Newcastle's fourth Summer signing was confirmed on Friday, as right back Javier Manquillo was unveiled.

The 23 year-old Spaniard joins on a three-year deal, with a figure of £4.5m mentioned for a player who was into the last year of his contract at Atletico Madrid.

Sky Sports broke the story while interviewing Jamaal Lascelles during United's kit launch at Sports Direct in Dublin on Tuesday - during which the Magpies captain said "we've got another full back in". 

The player was then spotted at United's Carton House 
HQ in Ireland, training with his new colleagues.

Manquillo debuted for Atletico's first team in 2011, spending the 2014/15 season on loan to Liverpool before a temporary posting to Olympique Marseille for whole of the following campaign.

Manquillo then made 20 appearances on loan for the mackems last season before returning to his parent club. Spanish sides Seville, Real Betis and Getafe had all been credited with an interest in him this summer.

PS: Manquillo was technically a team mate of current Magpie Jesus Gamez at Atletico, but made his last competitive senior appearance for them in February 2014 - six months before Gamez was signed.

Departure:
Murphy in, 
Murphy out

Following agreement on a £2m fee, Newcastle striker Daryl Murphy left the club's training camp and has now joined Nottingham Forest.   

The 34 year-old Ireland international signs a three year deal with the Championship outfit, who recently sold forward Britt Assombalonga to the smoggies.

Moving to Tyneside last August from Ipswich Town for a claimed £3m fee, Murphy scored six times in his 18 league and cup appearances (nine starts).

Forest will become the seventh club of Daryl's career since leaving Waterford United for the mackems in 2005 and subsequently joining Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich Town (twice), Celtic and Newcastle.

Loan departure:
Tangerine dream 
for Lobby

Newcastle's U23 forward, Sean Longstaff, has joined League One side Blackpool on loan until January.

Longstaff was on the scoresheet at Darlington on Monday and spent last season on loan at Kilmarnock along with Freddie Woodman and Callum Roberts, bagging three goals in 17 games over the border.

Linked with temporary moves to both Bury and Oldham Athletic, Lobby opted for Bloomfield Road and should get his first outing for the Seasiders on Saturday, as they send squads to both Salford City and Radcliffe.

Crowd control:
SJP to be traffic free

Press release, Friday:

Barriers were installed for the 2012 Olympics

New measures, like barriers and road closures that could stop vehicles entering the area outside of St James' Park, are being brought in ahead of the first home game of the season.

It's hoped the combination of vehicles and barriers at several key points on match-days could reduce the threat of vehicles entering areas with large crowds of supporters.

Although the terror threat nationally is currently severe meaning an attack is highly likely, police stress they have no intelligence to suggest that St James' Park is being targeted for an attack.

But with vehicles used as weapons to drive into crowds in Nice, Berlin, Stockholm and more recently in London, the police and Newcastle City Council in partnership with the Fans Forum and the club have decided to protect the 52,000 supporters who regularly flock to St James' Park.

The decision to tighten security was taken following national events advice from the police National Counter Terrorism Unit and approaches from the Fans Forum.

Cllr Nick Kemp, Chair of the community safety partnership, Safe Newcastle, said:

"This is not a decision we have taken lightly but with the support of the Fan's Forum and the club we feel this is the right thing to do.

"We have seen the death and destruction caused by terrorists who use vehicles as weapons by driving them into crowded places.

"While there is no intelligence to suggest an attack is being planned in Newcastle, we have a duty and responsibility to do all that we can to protect the public, and this is what we will do."

The council and the police say road closures will be kept to a minimum and will not hinder those travelling to the match on foot.

The barriers will be at several locations and only closed approximately 20 mins before and after final whistle reflecting the area of greatest concern:

* junction of Strawberry Place & Leazes Park Road
* junction of Strawberry Place & Barrack Road
* junction of Strawberry Place & St James Street
* Strawberry Lane

In addition Leazes Terrace, behind the East Stand where long queues form, will also be closed one hour before kick-off and until 20 minutes after the final whistle to allow crowds to disperse.

Closures will be flexible to allow blue light vehicles access in an emergency.

The measures will be tested for the first time on Sunday, August 6th, when Newcastle entertain Verona in a friendly.

All being well, they will be put in place for all 19 home games, starting on Sunday, August 13th, against Spurs.

Compo:
Howay.... hat giveaway

Stirring memories of days past is the latest release from Tyneside-based merchandiser Spirit of 69 - a simple black and white reversible bucket hat. 

Inspired by Gazza's choice of headwear when making an impromptu appearance in the Gallowgate Corner in 1991, the Howay the Lads design is on sale now. 

Available in various sizes online here, we have one to give away in a free-to-enter competition. 

To be in with a chance of winning, name the venue that Magpie pair John Anderson and Roy Aitken are playing at in the picture below, taken in May 1990: 



Email your answer to comps@nufc.com (subject: Hat) by Thursday July 27th @ 4pm. One entry per person please. Entries welcome from anywhere.
 
London Mag signs on:
Wor Jacob

Newcastle officially announced their third senior close season acquisition on Wednesday, with England U21 winger Jacob Murphy arriving from Norwich City.

A fee of £10m is claimed - plus £2m in additional payments - taking United's transfer spend in the current window over £25m including £6.2m for Christian Atsu and £8.7m for Florian Lejeune.

The Wembley-born player commented that:

"Newcastle's my childhood club....growing up only ever knowing Newcastle, now I've got the opportunity to come and represent this beautiful club and I can't wait to get started.

"My mother is from Birtley, my dad from Ashington and the rest of the family from Gateshead (we've) always been Newcastle supporters.

"My first game was....Newcastle v PSV in the UEFA Cup - a 2-1 win.

Speaking to Sky Sports News on Tuesday afternoon, Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles confirmed that Murphy had signed. 

Murphy-related quotes from Rafa Benitez, Tuesday:

"We were here in Ireland last year and we were talking about Jacob’s brother (Josh, also at Norwich City). 

"We liked his brother and we spoke about him. I was following both of them - but I think we have signed the right one, the one I wanted.

"I have received a lot of information about both, and it was positive about both of them. But in this case we wanted the type of player (Jacob is) and were happy with that.

"We will see if he can reproduce his performances of the Championship in the Premier League. He has the potential to do that.

"Sometimes when you are looking for a player you are thinking if they are technically good enough or if they have pace or can score goals.

"In this case the main thing is that we have a player who has pace and score goals but wants to play for Newcastle United, that is a huge advantage. 

"He has shown character and personality, it is his desire to play for Newcastle.

"We are happy with one of them (Murphy's) at the moment, that is fine."

The England U21 winger was allowed to leave City's  German training camp to fly to Dublin on Monday and finalise his move, which comes eight months after signing an extended deal at Norwich until 2021.

22 year-old Murphy (whose twin brother Josh is also in the Canaries first team squad) netted against United at both Gallowgate and Carrow Road last season.

Jacob made four appearances for England U21s at the European Championships in Poland last month, netting once as United were represented at the tournament by chief scout, Steve Nickson.

Making his senior debut for Norwich in January 2014, Jacob spent time on loan at both Swindon Town and Southend United later that season. 

After temporary moves to Blackpool, Scunthorpe United and Colchester United in 2014/15, a loan deal took him to Coventry City for the 2015/16 season - netting ten times for the Sky Blues and regularly playing alongside Magpie loanee Adam Armstrong.

Murphy managed double figures again last season as he made 40 senior appearances for Norwich City.

Teen away:
Birthday boy 
set for exit



England youth international Lewis Gibson celebrated his 17th birthday on Wednesday as a Newcastle player, but will soon be heading for pastures new.

The Durham-born full back is yet to appear for the black and whites this pre-season and has made it clear that he sees his future as a professional footballer somewhere other than Tyneside.

Interest from Spurs and Southampton is claimed, but Everton are the front runners for Gibson's signature, with the Liverpool Echo reporting that a £6m bid from the Toffees has now been accepted by United. 

Making the first of 17 league and cup appearances for United's U18s in January 2016, England recognition exposed the potential of Lewis to a wider audience.

An impressive series of displays as England lost to Spain on penalties in the final of the European U17 Championships in May then cemented his reputation and intensified interest from other clubs. 

In addition to Gibson, Everton have also spent undisclosed amounts in recent weeks on a Dutch youth international central defender and striker.

That emphasis on youth is mirrored by a successful development squad who lifted the Premier League 2 Division 1 Championship last season - while Newcastle were finishing third in Division 2. 

Ultimately higher standards of coaching and off field organisation and a more proven route to first team football (perhaps via better quality loan moves) appear to have won the day.

PS: Liam Gibson - the elder brother of Lewis and also a full back - remains at Newcastle. 

Compo:
Book giveaway - 
winner revealed

Thanks to publishers De Coubertin, we had a copy of local author Martin Hardy's latest book "Rafa's Way" signed by none other than Rafa Benitez himself. 

Following the success of "Touching Distance" and "Tunnel of Love", "Rafa's Way" recounts Newcastle's revival on and off the field during last season.

In order to be in with a chance of winning it, we asked you to tell us where Rafa was in the picture below. 

Most folks correctly deduced that it was at Hull City in the League Cup (just before the penalty shootout), while some mistook the amber of City's shirts for the gold of Wolves - and a few merely answered that Rafa was standing next to Ciaran Clark....  

From our bulging cyber-sack, the entry submitted by Manu Rangar was randomly selected - thanks to everyone who took the time to enter.

If you weren't successful, author-signed hardback copies of "Rafa's Way" are available for £19.99 including UK delivery, while the last few hardback copies of "Tunnel of Love" are £12.99.

(Martin's first book "Touching Distance" is sold out)

Alternatively, purchase both books together for £30, again including UK P&P. Order online here

2017/18:
Terriers ticket boost 

Some good news for Newcastle away followers, with confirmation from Huddersfield Town of an increased allocation for our opening away game next season.

Rather than the 1,900 places for our visit there back in March, United will receive 2,340 tickets when they head to West Yorkshire on Sunday August 20th.

They will go on sale from this Monday (24th) with an initial loyalty point requirement of 100, priced in line with this season's PL guideline of £30 for adults (plus £20 for over-60s and £15 for U18s).

Loan lads:
Borrowers

Matz Sels (Anderlecht)
The goalkeeper returned to the starting XI for a low-key friendly against lower league Dender on Wednesday, Anderlecht running out 3-1 winners.

This Saturday sees the Belgian Super Cup Final against Zulte Waregem staged at Anderlecht's home ground. 

Alex Gilliead (Bradford City)
The Bantams won 2-1 at non-league Guiseley on Tuesday night, but Alex didn't feature.

City host the mackems at Valley Parade on Saturday and then Newcastle next Wednesday.

Tom Heardman (Bury) 
Bury lost 0-1 at Macclesfield Town on Tuesday, with Tom featuring for the opening 57 minutes of play.

Next up for the Shakers is a home friendly against Crewe Alexandra on Saturday.

Adam Armstrong (Bolton Wanderers)
It finished 0-0 in a kickabout at National League  AFC Fylde on Tuesday, with Arma debuting for the Trotters as a half time sub and having an effort disallowed.

Bolton travel to Fleetwood Town on Saturday for another kickabout.

2017/18:
Cumbrians eclipsed

Newcastle U18s  3  Carlisle United U18s  0



It's now three wins out of three for Newcastle's Academy side, following their latest success at a sun-drenched Little Benton on Tuesday afternoon.

The Magpies took a slightly fortunate 18th minute lead, when free kick from the right rebounded off the far post before bouncing into the net via a defender. 

Carlisle looked to have levelled within ten minutes, when a midfielder held off his opponent to force the ball home - only for the referee to rule out the effort for an earlier foul on a Newcastle player.

Both sides made numerous changes following the half time interval, with home substitute Deece Kasinga setting up a second goal just before the hour mark - giving his man the slip out by the left hand touchline before centring for Adam Wilson to drill home.

More good work from Kasinga led to Newcastle adding their third of the afternoon after 62 minutes, Kieren Aplin providing a quality finish into the top corner of the goal from outside the box.

The Cumbrians pushed on in the closing stages and were denied the goal their play deserved by a trio of saves from the home 'keeper before their final chance went begging when a late header missed the target.

Dave Watson's side begin their NI Super Cup Premier Section fixtures on Monday night, when they take on County Antrim at Ballymena Showgrounds. 

Old boy:
Another new 
start for Tayls

Having failed to win a new contract at Ipswich Town, ex-Newcastle defender Steven Taylor has now arrived on trial at League One Doncaster Rovers.

The 31 year-old started for Rovers and completed 45 minutes as they drew 1-1 against Derby County in a kickabout at the Keepmoat Stadium on Tuesday.

Returning from a stint in the USA with Portland Timbers last December, Tayls agreed terms with Ipswich for the remainder of last season - only to struggle with fitness and play just three times.

Invited to train with the Tractor Boys this summer, he appeared in recent friendlies against Drogheda United and Southend United but was then released.  

PS: Fellow former Magpie Gabriel Obertan has joined Bulgarian side Levski Sofia on a two year deal - his third club since leaving United just over a year ago.

Initially signing for Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala, a change of club ownership saw him released from his contract after just six months, returning to England after agreeing a short term deal at Wigan Athletic.

U23s:
Blues in tune 
at the Arena 

Darlington AFC  1  Newcastle U23s  2

Match footage is online here

Match report

2017/18:
Dwight double
breaks Hearts

Hearts  1  Newcastle  2

Match report is online here

2017/18:
Change kits 
confirmed

Available from an unspecified date in August, this is now confirmed as United's official change kit - officially light blue shirts and socks with dark denim shorts:

Meanwhile the all-black third kit is now on sale:



2017/18:
Fans forum minutes

The minutes of the most recent NUFC fan forum are available to read online here

Unlikely lads #1:
Transfers 

Old boys on the move: 

Sam Allardyce left Crystal Palace
Sammy Ameobi Bolton Wanderers
Vurnon Anita Leeds United
Gael Bigirimana Motherwell
Kevin Bond Birmingham City C
Lee Bowyer Charlton Athletic AM
Tony Caig Bury GC
Adam Campbell Morecambe
Ryan Donaldson Hartlepool United
Seydou Doumbia AS Roma to Sporting Lisbon (loan)
Shay Given training with Macclesfield Town
Yoan Gouffran Goztepe Izmir
Stuart Green Cleator Moor Celtic M
Jonas Gutierrez Independiente 
Brad Inman Peterborough United to Rochdale (loan)
Peter Lovenkrands Rangers YC
Ryan McGorrigan Blyth Town
Daryl Murphy Nottingham Forest
Conor Newton Hartlepool United
Gabriel Obertan Levski Sofia
Scott Parker Spurs Academy C
Matty Pattison South Shields
Nile Ranger Southend United to HMP venue TBC
John Robertson Inverness CT M
Lubo Satka DAC 1904
Steven Taylor Doncaster Rovers (trial)
Haris Vuckic FC Twente
Mike Williamson Oxford United (trial)
Andy Woodman left Whitehawk