Toon will face German duo in Austria
NEWCASTLE United have confirmed they will travel to Austria next month as part of their pre-season preparations.
The Magpies will face two German opponents as head coach Eddie Howe gets his side ready for the start of the 2022/23 campaign on August 6.
Newcastle will face 1860 Munich on July 15 at the SaalfeldenArena Burgerau before meeting Mainz 05 on July 18 at the Kufstein Arena.
Howe’s side will also take on neighbours Gateshead in a behindclosed-doors friendly on July 9 before jetting off for their weeklong training camp.
1860 Munich play in the third tier of German football and have faced off against Newcastle in the past.
The last meeting between the sides came in the Intertoto Cup in 2001, with Newcastle winning 6-3 on aggregate.
Mainz finished eighth in Bundesliga last term and beat Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle in a pre-season friendly in the summer of 2017.
Newcastle will also face Benfica in an away friendly on July 26 in Portugal.
The end of pre-season consists of two home clashes which were confirmed earlier in the summer.
Italian Serie A side Atalanta will be at St James’ Park on July 29, with a friendly against Spanish club Athletic Bilbao taking place the following day.
Tickets for both home friendlies will go on sale from book.nufc.co.uk on July 5.
Newcastle start the Premier League season with newlypromoted Nottingham Forest on the opening day at St James’ Park.
■ NEWCASTLE United’s new cult hero Bruno Guimaraes has further tightened his close bond with the supporters with his latest post on Twitter.
In response to the famous chant bellowed from the stands at St James’ Park, the Brazilian international comically posted ‘do you like my new magic hat’ while sporting a striking straw hat and a pair of sunshades.
His tweet has gone down well with supporters with some jokingly calling on him to wear it before the opening league game against Nottingham Forest on August 6.
Guimaraes has been a huge hit with the Magpies since his January switch from French outfit Olympique Lyonnais.
The 24-year-old scored five goals in 17 appearances during his first half season in England and has played a crucial role in Newcastle’s upsurge in form under Howe.