NEWCASTLE United’s players have arrive back at the club’s training ground for pre-season ahead of the upcoming Premier League campaign.

The first-team, along with head coach Eddie Howe, are back at Darsley Park to undergo fitness testing and begin preparations for the new season.

New signings Matt Targett and Nick Pope are expected to be involved while latest acquisition Sven Botman is expected to join up with the squad at a later date with the final formalities of his deal yet to be complete. He also spent the early weeks of June on loan with The Netherlands Under-21 side.

The Magpies will head out to a pre-season training camp in Austria later this month where they will compete in friendly matches against 1860 Munich and Mainz.

A trip to Portugal is next on the list as they face Benfica at the Stadio Du Luz before ending the pre-season schedule with friendlies against Italian side Atalanta and Spanish outfit Atletico Bilbao at St James Park.

Their first game of the Premier League season will kick off the following week on home soil against newly promoted Nottingham Forest.