Newcastle and Sunderland will play the first of three matches in North America tonight after embarking on the first leg of long distance pre-season tours. Chief football writer Paul Fraser compares the two trips and the challenges the two clubs face

SUNDERLAND have travelled the furthest to play a first game in the United States, while Newcastle United have a longer flight time back to Tyneside.

Whatever way you look at it, the number of air miles the two Premier League squads will clock on the plane over the next week or so can hardly be described as ideal preparation for the new season.

Steve McClaren, the Newcastle head coach, admitted as much last week when he suggested he could do nothing about it because he had inherited the programme from decisions made prior to his appointment.

Commercially, playing three games each across the Atlantic should reap the benefits and increase the fan base, but McClaren and counterpart Dick Advocaat are more concerned with fitness levels and preparations for the new campaign than the money.

By the time Newcastle fly back to Tyneside, finishing with a 4, 684 mile trip, they will have been on a plane for approaching 11,000 miles. Sunderland, whose last flight from Toronto to the North-East will be 3,408 miles, will have surpassed that figure by hitting around the 11,200 mark.

Here’s what the two Tyne-Wear rivals will encounter along the way ...

NEWCASTLE

Tuesday, July 14, 8pm (CT)

Club Atlas, Miller Park, Milwaukee

AFTER touching down in Wisconsin on Sunday after a 3,737 mile flight, McClaren has prepared his Newcastle squad for the opening Stateside friendly against Mexican opposition, albeit 90 miles north of Chicago on the shore of Lake Michigan.

Atlas are managed by former Uruguayan international Gusavo Matosas and do have pedigree having qualified for the Copa Libertadores. They normally base themselves in Guadalajara but have travelled across the Mexican border to face Newcastle at the 41,900-capacity Miller Park.

The venue in Milwaukee was built in 2001 and has a fan-shaped retractable roof. It is also the home of the reputable Major League Baseball side, the Milwaukee Brewers.

Saturday, July 18, 8pm (PT)

Sacramento Republic, Bonney Field, Sacramento

After the final whistle has blown in Milwaukee, the home of the ‘Fonz’ Henry Winkler, McClaren and his team will fly another 1,773 miles west to Sacramento, which is 75 miles north east of San Francisco.

There might be time for a spot of sight-seeing to explore a city with a population of more than 500,000. These days the city boasts professional teams in the NBA (Kings), MLB (River Cats) and the Republic.

The Republic, managed by former Everton and Portsmouth midfielder Predrag Radosavlejvic, play in the third tier of the United States football system, which is the United Soccer League. Bonney Field – where Sunderland play two games - is their proud home and has seats for 11,000.

Tuesday, July 21, 7.30pm (PT)

Portland Timbers, Providence Park, Portland

After experiencing the sights of Sacramento, Newcastle will be back on the plane to fly north to Portland in Oregon. It will be a much shorter flight this time around, covering just over 508 miles.

The Timbers – named in honour of the region’s traditional logging industry – achieved their highest finish in the MLS in 2013 when they finished third and topped the Western Conference.

Portland has a huge football following and regularly sell-out Providence Park. Newcastle will look to ensure official mascot Timb er Joey doesn’t use a chainsaw to cut through a log in the stands, as that will mean the Timbers have scored or kept a clean sheet.

SUNDERLAND

Tuesday, July 14, 8pm (PT)

Sacramento Republic, Bonney Field, Sacramento

The Black Cats have flown over to San Francisco for a week long training camp, which will also see them travel an hour north east to Sacramento for their first two friendlies.

The first of those will be against the Republic – who play Newcastle four days later – and they are managed by former Cheltenham and Bristol Rovers boss Paul Buckle.

Friday, July 17, 7pm (PT)

Club de Futbol Pachuca, Bonney Field, Sacramento

Pachuca are one of the most successful teams in Mexican football history. They won the CONCACAF Champions League in 2007, 2008 and 2010, which arrived on the back of successive league titles in the Liga MX. Last year they finished sixth.

Uruguayan Diego Alonso is Los Tuzos’ – the Gophers – head coach and he was a former player with Atletico Madrid, Malaga and Valencia. Clubs from across Europe are keeping an eye on 19-year-old midfielder Erick Gutierrez.

Wednesday, July 22, 7pm (local time)

Toronto FC, BMO Field, Toronto

After starting with two friendlies in Sacramento, Sunderland will fly 2,636 miles north east to Canada for their final game. The fixture was arranged as part of the deals which saw Jermain Defoe and Jozy Altidore swap clubs in January.

Toronto are famed for regularly selling out their 30,226-capacity stadium and another big crowd is expected. There is another Sunderland connection, with former Black Cat Danny Dichio working for the club’s academy having created history by becoming the first Toronto player to score the first goal in the MLS in 2005.

Dick Advocaat’s team will come up against some strong players, with Italian international Sebastian Giovinco banging in the goals since his arrival from Juventus.