Newcastle United begin preparations for the 2021-22 season this weekend, as half of Steve Bruce's troops will travel to take on non-league side York City in Sunday afternoon's friendly.
The other half of the Magpies' squad will face a test against League Two side Harrogate Town, while York City are preparing for their second pre-season game following victory over Whitby Town.
Match preview
As the ongoing coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc on non-league football nearly 12 months after the first enforced lockdown, York City's 2020-21 season was curtailed in February as the National League North was declared null and void.
At the time, Steve Watson's men were sitting pretty in eighth position in the table, but a fifth season in the National League North now awaits for the Minstermen, with former Newcastle regular Watson in control of the reins.
During an eight-year spell at the club between 1990 and 1998, Watson - who still holds the record of Newcastle's youngest-ever player - racked up over 200 appearances and collected one FA Cup runners-up medal, so a hint of sentimentality will certainly creep in for the 47-year-old this weekend.
York City will also lock horns with Newcastle's bitter Tyne-Wear rivals Sunderland in a friendly on the 21st before rounding off their pre-season preparations against Notts County on August 7, and they prepared for the visit of the Magpies in ideal fashion, as Clayton Donaldson and a trialist propelled them to a 2-1 win over Whitby on July 10.
With never-ending drama surrounding the proposed takeover still rumbling on in the background, Newcastle boss Steve Bruce will only have eyes on the pitch in front of him as the Magpies prepare for another season of top-flight football.
Their stint with the big boys seemed under threat for some time last season, but a Joe Willock-inspired revival saw Newcastle pick up five wins from their last eight Premier League fixtures to ultimately finish in a respectable 12th place - 17 points clear of 18th-placed Fulham.
Newcastle are yet to send shockwaves through the transfer world - with three unknown youngsters representing their only signings so far - but talks are thought to be in progress over a second loan spell for Willock, which would prove to be a vital bit of business should an agreement be reached.
As mentioned, one half of Bruce's contingent will step out onto the LNER Community Stadium turf while the other half will prepare for battle with Harrogate Town, and a healthy mix of youth and experience will be on show during whichever game Magpies fans choose to tune in for.
Doncaster Rovers, Rotherham United, Burton Albion and Norwich City also lie in wait for Newcastle during their pre-season preparations, but the St James' Park faithful may be more concerned about the happenings off the pitch rather than on it at this moment in time.
Team News
York City have welcomed a handful of new recruits to the club ahead of the 2021-22 campaign, with 37-year-old Donaldson starting his second spell at the club as he means to go on with a goal against Whitby.
Former Newcastle United youngster Mackenzie Heaney will also be representing the Minstermen this term, while forwards Jason Gilchrist and Kurt Willoughby have arrived from South Shields and Flyde respectively.
Newcastle's three arrivals of the summer window have come in the forms of Charlie Wiggett, Cameron Ferguson - the son of former Everton forward Duncan Ferguson - and Remi Savage, with all three players looking likely to be thrown into action this weekend.
Miguel Almiron left the field in tears after sustaining a hamstring injury during Paraguay's Copa America battle with Uruguay, but he is already back in the gym as he prepares to return to Bruce's squad next month.
Goalkeeper Freddie Woodman also ought to earn some game time in between the sticks this weekend, as Martin Dubravka is now feared to be missing the start of the season with a foot problem.
Head To Head
York City and Newcastle United will be locking horns for the fifth time this weekend, with all four previous meetings coming in the FA Cup during the 20th century.
The now National League North side held Newcastle to a 1-1 draw on both initial occasions in 1930 and 1955, but the Magpies won the first replay 2-1 before triumphing 2-0 25 years later.
We say: York City 0-2 Newcastle United
A mixture of up-and-coming starlets and established names will take to the field for Newcastle here, but it is impossible to predict exactly who will be preparing for battle against York City.
Hosting manager Watson has plenty of fond memories from his St James' Park days, but he is unlikely to add to that here in what should be a routine win for a makeshift Magpies XI.
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