Why Sven Botman was left out of Newcastle United’s friendly win over Gateshead

Matt Ritchie, Miguel Almiron, Joelinton and Sean Longstaff were all on target as Newcastle United kicked off their pre-season schedule with a 5-1 win against National League neighbours Gateshead.

Summer signings Sven Botman and Nick Pope were left out of the Magpies squad along with Bruno Guimaraes, Fabian Schar and Chris Wood - but Eddie Howe was still able to assess a whole host of options throughout the game.

All five players are likely travel to this week’s training camp in Austria and will get their first minutes of pre-season in upcoming friendlies against German clubs 1860 Munich and Mainz.

Defender Kelland Watts was the only Magpies player to play to entire 90 minutes as the likes of Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser got valuable minutes ahead of this week’s training camp in Austria.

Despite the best efforts of young midfielder Elliot Anderson, who will hope to impress Howe throughout pre-season following an impressive loan stint at Bristol Rovers, it took United until 34 minutes to find a way past the Heed as the Magpies starlet allowed Ritchie to fire beyond Dan Langley.

The lead was doubled just after half-time as Joelinton scored from the penalty spot after fellow substitute Sean Longstaff had been fouled in the area.

Gateshead pulled a goal back when striker Paul Blackett beat Karl Darlow before slotting home but Newcastle were able to resume control of the game as the final ten minutes approached.

Almiron got on the scoresheet and restored his side’s two-goal advantage before doubling his tally with a similar effort just minutes later.

The final goal of the game arrived in the final minute as Sean Longstaff beat Heed substitute keeper James Montgomery after some neat approach play from Joelinton.

Newcastle return to action on Friday afternoon when they face former Intertoto Cup opponents 1860 Munich in Austria.

NUFC (first half): Dúbravka, Trippier, Lascelles, Watts, Dummett, Shelvey, Anderson, Willock, Ritchie, Fraser, Wilson

NUFC (second half): Darlow, Krafth, Watts, Burn, Targett, Longstaff, Joelinton, Longstaff, Almirón, Saint-Maximin, Murphy

Subs not used: Savage, Turner-Cooke