Newcastle United will continue their preparations for the 2021-22 Premier League campaign with a pre-season clash against League One outfit Burton Albion on Friday evening.
The Magpies will enter the clash off the back of a 1-1 draw with Rotherham United on Tuesday, while Burton's last friendly ended in a 2-1 defeat at Alfreton Town on the same night.
Match preview
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Burton, who finished 16th in League One last season and will therefore again play in the third tier of English football next term, will open the 2021-22 campaign away to Shrewsbury Town on August 7.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's team have had a busy pre-season thus far, beating Nuneaton Borough and Bognor Regis Town in their first two friendlies before losing 2-1 to Scunthorpe United on July 20.
Burton then overcame Leicester City on penalties following a goalless draw in the Bass Charity Vase last weekend before suffering a 2-1 defeat to Alfreton Town on Tuesday.
As mentioned, the third-tier side are building towards their season opener against Shrewsbury on August 7, and it has been a very busy summer for the club in terms of incomings.
A number of first-team players have also moved on since the end of last season, and it will be fascinating to see whether Hasselbaink's side can challenge for the playoffs in 2021-22.
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Newcastle, meanwhile, will open their 2021-22 Premier League season at home to West Ham United on August 15, and Steve Bruce will be desperate for his side to get off to a strong start in the new campaign.
The Magpies have played three times this summer, opening their preparations with a 1-0 defeat at York City on July 18 before recording a 3-2 victory over Doncaster Rovers on July 23.
Bruce's side played their third friendly against Rotherham on Tuesday evening, with the two sides sharing the spoils in a 1-1 draw, as Jeff Hendrick cancelled out an early effort from Michael Smith.
Newcastle have two more confirmed pre-season matches in the diary, facing Burton on Friday before taking on Norwich City on August 7, eight days before their Premier League opener against West Ham.
The Magpies, who finished 12th in England's top flight last term, are yet to make a first-team signing this summer, but the club are expected to be active before the transfer deadline.
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Team News
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Luke Redfern and Thierry Latty-Fairweather lined up in a much-changed back four for Burton against Alfreton, but Hasselbaink is expected to ring the changes for the contest with Newcastle.
The XI could have a similar look to the one that started the clash with Leicester, including Tom Hamer, who made a strong impression against the Foxes.
Loan signing Jacob Maddox should feature in the first XI for the League One outfit, while Kane Hemmings, Lucas Akins and Jonny Smith are all in line to start on Friday.
As for Newcastle, Bruce made full use of his squad against Rotherham last time out, and there will once again be wholesale changes from the Magpies manager throughout the contest.
Callum Wilson was again in the starting XI last time out and that is expected to remain the case here, while Dwight Gayle might be handed another opportunity to impress in the final third of the field.
Jamaal Lascelles should again skipper the side from the middle of the defence, while Jacob Murphy, Matty Longstaff and Hendrick are likely to again feature off the bench.
Burton Albion possible starting lineup:
Garratt; Brayford, Oshilaja, Mancienne, Hamer; O'Connor, Shaughnessy; Akins, Maddox, Smith; Hemmings
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Woodman; Clark, Fernandez, Lascelles, Lewis; Fraser, Hayden, S Longstaff, Ritchie; Gayle, Wilson
We say: Burton Albion 1-2 Newcastle United
Burton are more than capable of making this a difficult contest for Newcastle, which is exactly what Bruce will want at this stage of his team's preparations for the new season. We are expecting a tight contest but feel that the Premier League club will just have enough to put a victory on the board.
Matt Law
