NEWCASTLE staged a second-half recovery to claw back a two-goal deficit and maintain their unbeaten pre-season record against League Two Doncaster Rovers.

Rafael Benitez’s side conceded two first-half goals to Doncaster striker Andy Williams, with the first coming from the penalty spot after a dreadful error from newly-signed goalkeeper Matz Sels.

They pulled a goal back at the start of the second half through another of their summer signings, Isaac Hayden, though, and levelled in the 90th minute thanks to a neat turn and shot from Spanish forward Ayoze Perez.

Having initially been left off the team sheet at the Keepmoat Stadium, Georginio Wijnaldum was a late addition to the Newcastle squad and came on for the final 11 minutes, in what could prove to be his final appearance in a Magpies shirt.

The Dutch midfielder is the subject of strong interest from Liverpool, who are hoping to complete a £25m deal within the next few days.

Newcastle’s starting line-up featured Adam Armstrong playing in the hole behind Aleksandar Mitrovic, with Jamaal Lascelles once again skippering the side from centre-half.

Armstrong is desperate for a chance to prove himself on Tyneside, having had a successful loan spell at Coventry City last season, and the youngster came close with the first chance of the game. He swivelled instinctively to meet Daryl Jamaat’s cross with a sweet first-time strike, but Doncaster goalkeeper Ross Etheridge parried the ball to safety.

Newcastle had a new goalkeeper on display in the shape of Sels, who made his first appearance for the Magpies at Irish side Bohemian last weekend, but while the Belgian arrived with a considerable reputation when he made a £4.5m switch from Gent, he suffered a moment to forget as Doncaster claimed the lead.

Having horribly miscontrolled the ball on the edge of his own six-yard box, Sels compounded his error as he attempted to punch a bouncing ball clear.

He only succeeded in clattering into Doncaster striker John Marquis, and Williams took full advantage as he casually rolled home from the penalty spot.

Newcastle offered little in the way of attacking threat throughout the first half. Armstrong wasted the visitors’ best opportunity before the break, shooting straight at Etheridge after he was released through the middle by Janmaat, but at least the teenager displayed energy and initiative.

Mitrovic, who will miss the first four games of next season through suspension, appeared more interested in sparking a running battle with his opposite number in the Doncaster back four than threatening the goal.

The Serbian forced Etheridge into a decent low save on the stroke of half-time, but Newcastle went into the break two behind after some awful defending in first-half stoppage time.

Andy Butler was completely unmarked as he met a corner from the right-hand side, and while his header was drifting off target, Williams nodded home from an acute angle at the back post.

Benitez made seven half-time changes, with Sels, Chancel Mbemba, Jonjo Shelvey and Armstrong the only players to remain on the field, and the alterations had an instant effect as one of the replacements, Hayden, clawed a goal back within six minutes of the restart.

The youngster, who was a £2.5m addition from Arsenal, forced a corner with a smart low shot that was tipped round the post, and took advantage as his first-time volley from the subsequent set-piece took a hefty deflection and looped into the net.

Newcastle came close again moments later when Armstrong’s shot was saved by replacement Rovers goalkeeper Marko Marosi, and the changes continued to come with Florian Thauvin, who is the subject of strong interest from Marseille and Lazio, and Henri Saivet coming onto the field.

The Magpies were much improved in the second half, and Perez came within inches of an equaliser as he dribbled into the area and drilled a low shot against the base of the left-hand post.

Perez was a bright and inventive presence, first on the left-hand side and then in a central area, and he equalised in the final minute. Having turned neatly in the box, the Spaniard beat Marosi with a side-footed effort that took a deflection on its way in.

Doncaster (3-5-2): Etheridge (Marosi 46); Alcock (McCormick 67), Wright (Lund 38), Butler; Blair (Calder 46), Middleton (Fielding 61), Coppinger, Rowe (Mandeville 46), Evina (Garratt 46); Marquis (Pugh 64), Williams (Longbottom 64).

Newcastle First Half (4-2-3-1): Sels; Janmaat, Mbemba, Lascelles, Anita; Colback, Shelvey; Ritchie, Armstrong, Aarons; Mitrovic.

Newcastle Second Half (4-2-3-1): Sels; Sterry, Mbemba (Saivet 67), Dummett, Gamez; Hayden, Shelvey (Wijnaldum 79); Gouffran, Armstrong (Thauvin 62), Perez; Gayle.