Full-time: Gateshead 0 Newcastle United 1

STEVE McCLAREN looked on from the stands as Papiss Cisse put his own case forward to figure in the new head coach’s plans as Newcastle United close in on expensive summer signings.

Anderlecht’s Aleksandar Mitrovic is expected on Tyneside to finalise a £15m deal – provided other clubs don’t match the offer - and McClaren would still like to add another striker before the new season starts next month.

And while PSV Eindhoven playmaker Georginio Wijnaldum was across the River Tyne putting the finishing touches to his £14.5m switch to St James’ Park, McClaren was given a quick reminder of the ability of a forward-thinker already at the club.

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Newcastle United's Gael Bigirimana in action during the pre-season friendly match at the Gateshead International Stadium.

He might have been plagued with a problematic knee injury for more than a year and been attracting interest from Middle Eastern, Russian and Turkish clubs willing to give him a hefty pay-rise, but Cisse remains in the North-East.

And, starting up front against Conference neighbours Gateshead for McClaren, Cisse displayed the hunger in a first half run-out in a pre-season friendly to suggest he will not be giving up his starting spot and Magpies future lightly.

It could be that if Mitrovic arrives from the Belgian league, after 30 goals in 78 appearances, that McClaren will already have made up his mind that the expensive summer signing will be at the top of his system – even more so if he continues to pursue QPR’s Charlie Austin too.

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Newcastle United's Emmanuel Riviere and Gateshead's Nathan Buddle (right) in action 

Try telling Cisse that, though. He had already shown good movement in the final third before quickly grabbing hold of the ball to take a penalty in the sixth minute against Gateshead.

He still had to convert it, but convert he did; cleverly side-footing beyond former Darlington goalkeeper Sam Russell to his left with plenty of power. It was a nice way to show the new head coach that he still wants to be around under the new regime and his opener arrived just 24 hours after McClaren had described how he was well aware of the Senegalese front-man’s strike-rate last season.

For those who need reminding, Cisse scored 11 goals from just 22 appearances. Eleven of those were starts, so there has never been a dispute over his ability to find the net. It will be interesting to see how he is used by McClaren in the weeks ahead if he stays at the club.

Cisse was part of a very familiar Newcastle team at the Gateshead International Stadium, while Wijnaldum stayed away ahead of the official confirmation of the deal which is expected on Saturday morning.

That meant Newcastle’s only debutants were goalkeeper Karl Darlow and centre-back Jamaal Lascelles. The pair were signed from Nottingham Forest 12 months ago, only to spend last season back at the City Ground on loan.

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Newcastle United's Moussa Sissoko in action 

But this is their chance now under the new boss and both looked composed and settled, even if they were rarely tested in the 45 minutes they got against Malcolm Crosby’s Heed team.

One of the better performers of the night was Massadio Haidara. The young Frenchman had his own troubles with injuries last season, but he was another full of attacking intent before and after the opener.

Haidara earned the penalty. His quick feet were too much for ex-Sunderland academy youngster Simon Ramsden, who tripped him in the area after some lovely trickery that would have created space for a cross.

When Haidara did send over a delivery, after a lovely move in the final third, Siem de Jong could not find the target and he headed over the bar. Shortly after that Moussa Sissoko was denied by Russell, which was the only other real chance of the first half, and he directed the rebound over with the goal in front of him.

As per friendlies, a wave of half-time substitutions saw the teams change. It was always McClaren’s wish to play two teams to give everyone a run out and that’s what he did.

A second goal never arrived. The closest they game was just after the hour when Emmanuel Riviere’s good work ended with a lovely pass to the unmarked Rolando Aarons. With just the keeper to beat, the fit-again winger’s shot was well turned over by Shaun MacDonald.

Riviere, who linked up play well throughout the second half, also teed up Gabriel Obertan, whose low shot was denied by MacDonald with quarter of an hour remaining. The Gateshead goalkeeper also prevented Adam Armstrong from scoring moments later.

GATESHEAD: Russell (MacDonald 46); Ramsden (Baxter 46), Pattison, Chandler (Morse 73), Curtis (Briggs 73), Clark (Buddle 46), Gillies (Kanda 66), Ramshaw, Shaw (Howe 46), Phillips, Marwood (Hailes 75). Subs (not used): McLaughlin, Allen, Perry.

NEWCASTLE (first half): Darlow, Janmaat, Lascelles, Williamson, Haidara; Anita, Colback; Gouffran, De Jong, Sissoko; Cisse. Newcastle (second half): Woodman; Bigirimana, Good, Satka, Ferguson; Tiote; Obertan, Perez, Aarons; Riviere, Armstrong.