Newcastle United’s St James’ Park in line for exciting development - could take place in June

The Football Association has confirmed plans to take England on the road for two pre-tournament friendlies in the runup to Euro 2024 and reports claim that St James’ Park is likely to be on the venues used for the team’s warm up games.

Mail Sport understands that one of England’s two pre-tournament games will take place away from Wembley Stadium with Newcastle emerging as the frontrunner to host the other game. St James’ Park has a rich history with the England national team - it was one of the eight venues used for Euro 96 and it also set to be one of the venues at the European Championships in 2028.

However, it has not played a host to an England game since March 2005 when Sven Goran Eriksson’s England registered a 2-0 victory over Azerbaijan in a World Cup qualifier. David Beckham and Steven Gerrard were the goalscorers on the night, while future signing Michael Owen was included in the starting lineup. Winger Kieran Dyer was handed a brief cameo from the substitutes bench, while midfielder Jermaine Jenas was included in the squad as an unused substitute.

A number of Toon stars will hope to add their names to the historic list of players to represent Newcastle at St James’ Park - Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson were included in Gareth Southgate’s most recent squad and players such as Joe Willock, Anthony Gordon and Jamaal Lascelles have previously represented the Three Lions at youth level. Other contenders could include Nick Pope and Harvey Barnes, although both have struggled for England call ups in recent times.

The England match to be taken on the road next summer is expected to be the first of two warm-up matches before the European Championships, which start on June 14.

The final pre-tournament game will be held at the national stadium in London.

The FA are still to rubber-stamp the venue England's match away from Wembley, but while St James' hasn't been confirmed as the location, it is a leading contender.

Old Trafford was the last English ground to host the national team other than Wembley; England defeating North Macedonia at the home of Manchester United in June.

The Premier League season finishes on Sunday 19 May 2024, but potential European commitments for teams mean some player’s may not be able to link up with England until 1 June when the Champions league final takes place.

This means that a potential Three Lions warm up friendly will take place sometime after 2 June before the tournament in Germany.