Newcastle United rounded-off their preparations for the season restart with a 2-1 win over La Liga side Rayo Vallecano.
Eddie Howe’s side opened the scoring four minutes in through Sean Longstaff before Chris Wood added a second from the penalty spot midway through the second-half.
Matt Targett scored an own goal with 15 minutes remaining but United held on for a morale-boosting victory ahead of Tuesday’s Carabao Cup last 16 clash against Bournemouth at St James’ Park.
Howe named a strong starting XI. Nick Pope and Kieran Trippier returned following their return from Qatar, with the likes of Sven Botman, Allan Saint-Maximin, Jonjo Shelvey and Matt Targett also featuring.
Mark Gillespie was the most experienced figure on the substitutes bench, with the rest made up of under-21s players.
The Magpies grabbed an early lead four minutes in when Trippier’s cross was half-cleared to Jacob Murphy. He found Longstaff in the box, who fired home emphatically into the roof of the net.
A foul on Joe Willock in the box saw the referee point to the penalty spot and Wood stepped up to make it 2-0. Vallecano then pulled one back via Targett’s own goal.
Our writer Jordan Cronin was at St James’ Park - and here’s his Newcastle United player ratings:
1. Nick Pope - 7
Showed no signs of World Cup rustiness. Made a sharp save to deny Raul de Tomas Gomez just two minutes in. Called into action in the final quarter of an hour. Photo: Stu Forster
2. Kieran Trippier - 7
First game back after the World Cup and it’s like he’s never been away. Creative in the final third and defensively sound. Photo: George Wood
3. Jamaal Lascelles - 7
Cleared an early Vallecano effort off the line. Skippered the team and read the game well.
4. Sven Botman - 7
Mis-timed an interception in the opening stages but other than that was rarely tested defensively. Photo: George Wood