Newcastle's four game pre-season U21 tour of Holland kicked off with an entertaining contest at the Sport Park home of local side RKSV in Driel on Tuesday night, coming from two goals down to win.

Vitesse were two up after 24 minutes through Thomas Oude Kotte and Uros Djurdjevic but United got back into the game after 38 minutes when Dan Barlaser's low cross was turned into his own net by 'keeper Jeroen Houwen. 

Four minutes after the break the visitors then equalised when Liam Smith converted a spot-kick after Callum Williams had been illegally wrestled to the ground. And the Magpies were ahead on 56 minutes after Barlaser played in Dani Koks, who cut inside and saw a low shot deflected home.

Koks is a 17 year-old Dutch midfielder formerly with Ajax who is on trial at United, featuring for the U18s in their pre-season opener against Corby Town before being promoted to the U21 squad.

United carved out a two goal advantage on the hour when Barlaser overran the ball but the 'keeper's attempted clearance hit defender Wellington Verloo and flew into the net for another OG. 

Arnhem then reduced the deficit with 20 minutes to go after Michael Newberry was robbed in the box and striker Abiola Dauda slotted home past Paul Woolston.

There was a first outing for Kevin Mbabu since his unsuccessful loan spell with Rangers, while a handful of academy players including Dan Ward were fresh from youth team action at the Gothia Cup in Sweden. 

Three of the four development players who recently signed professional deals featured, with Liam Smith, Macaulay Gillesphey and Jamie Sterry all in action - the latter having just missed the cut for the senior squad tour to the USA. Injury sidelined the fourth new pro - striker Tom Heardman.