Key Newcastle United duo absent v Darlington as Eddie Howe turns to 22-man squad
Newcastle United 3-0 Darlington: Joe Willock, Will Osula and Sean Neave on target in behind-closed-doors friendly.
Sean Steur and Ewen Jaouen made their debuts as Newcastle United began pre-season with a 3-0 win over National League North side Darlington.
Magpies’ head coach Eddie Howe fielded two different XIs in each half as Steur played the opening 45 minutes alongside Jacob Ramsey and Joe Willock in midfield before Jaouen replaced Nick Pope in goal in a second half largely made up of under-21 players.
Willock and a Will Osula penalty put Newcastle 2-0 up at half-time before Sean Neave added a third.
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Joelinton and Fabian Schar were both absent, understood to be because of fitness management after they missed the end of last season through injury. Meanwhile, Lewis Miley and Tino Livramento are also expected to return later in pre-season as they continue their respective recoveries.
Howe’s side next face National League outfit Gateshead on Saturday in their first public friendly of the summer.
Newcastle United beat Darlington in behind-closed-doors friendly
Former Arsenal man Willock gave the Magpies the lead in the 29th minute after getting on the end of Jacob Murphy’s cross before six minutes later winning the penalty that Osula converted.
Howe changed the entire team at half-time, as Jaouen made his first appearance since joining from Stade de Reims last month. Neave scored, while the likes of Trevan Sanusi, Park Seung-soo and Vakhtang Salia also got run outs.
Newcastle United first-half XI: Nick Pope, Leo Shahar, Alex Murphy, Sven Botman, Lewis Hall, Jacob Ramsey, Joe Willock, Sean Steur, Jacob Murphy, William Osula, Harvey Barnes.
Newcastle United second-half XI: Ewen Jaouen, Mason Miley, Miodrag Pivaš, Luke Craggs, Dylan Charlton, Rory Finneran, Anthony Munda, Sean Neave, Trevan Sanusi, Park Seung-soo, Vakhtang Salia.