Whitby to welcome Toon’s Under-23s for friendly tournament

NEWCASTLE United will send an Under-23s squad down to Whitby at the end of July to take part in a pre-season friendly tournament.

Whitby Town will host the inaugural “Club Challenge Cup” between July 27 and 29 – and it will also feature Scottish champions Celtic, as well as Dutch club AZ Alkmaar.

Peter Beardsley is expected to take an expanded Under-23s squad down to the Turnbull Ground for the tournament, with some Under-18s and fringe first-team players also likely to be involved.

Last summer, Haris Vuckic and Kevin Mbabu were among the United players to travel down to Corby Town for a pre-season tournament last summer, during which the young Magpies lifted the Steel Park Cup.

Rafa Benitez is still finalising plans for the first-team’s pre-season schedule, though it is believed that the club are considering heading to Ireland for another training camp.

But, in preparation for their own 2017/18 campaign, Beardsley’s Under-23 side – who narrowly missed out on promotion after losing the play-off final against West Ham United – will take on Celtic in their opening match of the tournament on Thursday, July 27 (7.45pm kick-off).

The Magpies will then face either AZ – where goalkeeper Tim Krul has been on loan this season – or Whitby in a third-place play-off, or the final on Saturday, July 29, depending on how they fare against Celtic.

Tickets for each game cost £10 for adults, £6 for concession and £3 for children (under 16). Visit www.whitbytown.com to buy tickets.