JUST think - only another 56 days to go before new Magpies boss Steve McClaren faces the real Hazard.

On this occasion, Eden’s little Belgian brother Thorgan Hazard proved the difference, slotting home in the 65th minute to hand Borussia Monchengladbach a 1-0 friendly victory at St James’ Park.

Younger Hazard didn’t make the grade at Chelsea, while his brother most certainly has, but just four minutes after coming on he beat Tim Krul with a rifling shot, a crisp finish Eden himself would have been proud of.

Newcastle face Chelsea in the Premier League on September 26 and by then McClaren will be hoping new £14.5m signing Georgino Wijnaldum is firing on all cylinders, otherwise the deafening silence which greeted the new Magpies boss in his first St James’ Park dug-out appearance is likely to turn nasty.

Two wins from seven pre-season friendlies has not exactly whetted the appetite of the Toon Army, who you feel are primed and ready to express their anger for an umpteenth time on owner Mike Ashley.

Borussia, third in last season’s Bundesliga, were expected to give Newcastle a thorough examination ahead of next Sunday’s Premier League opener at home to Southampton – and so it proved, even though McClaren’s side had several chances of their own before Hazard expertly showed them how to convert.

It was a low key start by both teams under bright Tyneside skies, but Newcastle carved out the first proper opening as jet-heeled Gabriel Obertan cut inside his marker and fired inches wide of the upright.

Both sides strolled through the middle of the half, but as the break approached the Magpies began to make inroads with Holland international Wijnaldum’s clever back heel almost catching out keeper Yann Sommer.

Seconds before half-time Massadio Haidara picked up Jack Colback’s quick corner and his fierce shot from the edge of the box forced Sommer into a terrific save, before Papiss Cisse then went close, his glancing header landing fractionally the wrong side the far post.

Straight after the break and Vurnon Anita’s astute pass released Moussa Sissoko, who with only the keeper to beat, cleverly scooped his effort over the advancing Sommer, only to watch as his lob hit the crossbar.

At last the visitors responded, with Lars Stindl firing their first shot goalwards, which Tim Krul smothered at his near post.

It was a sign of Borussia’s growing menace and four minutes after coming on Hazard’s neat strike clinched the pre-season friendly in front of a 21,088 gate. Newcastle substitute Aleksandar Mitrovic should have made it 1-1, but with five minutes to go and with an open goal at his mercy, McClaren’s new signing somehow contrived to hit the inside of the upright.