Team News: PNE v Newcastle

After four wins out of four on the road in the pre-season friendlies at Bamber Bridge, Stockport County, Morecambe and Accrington Stanley, this was a return to familiar turf after nearly three months away.

Neil gave the captain's armband to Greg Cunningham, with Ben Davies included from the start in the centre of defence.

Summer signing Josh Harrop was named on the bench, the summer buy from Manchester United yet to feature in the friendlies due to a calf injury picked-up in training.

Stevie May, Paul Gallagher, Calum Woods, John Welsh and Declan Rudd were not in the match-day squad because of injury.

Newcastle included new £12m buy Jacob Murphy on the bench.

PNE: Maxwell, Vermijl, Huntington, Davies, Cunningham, Pearson, Browne, Barkhuizen, Johnson, Robinson, Hugill. Subs: Boyle, Horgan, Harrop, Doyle, Grimshaw, Spurr, Pringle, Meulensteen, Earl, Hudson.

Newcastle: Elliot, Mbemba, Hanley, Lejeune, Dummett, Atsu, Diamé, Shelvey, Aarons, De Jong, Mitrovic. Subs: Clark, Colback, Murphy, Gayle, Manqillo, Hayden, Perez, Yedlin, Roberts, Darlow, Woodman.

Referee: Jon Moss (Yorkshire)