England will play Australia at Newcastle or Sunderland as one of three warm-up games for Euro 2016, two of which will take place away from Wembley, according to reports.
The Football Association is finalising plans to take one friendly fixture to the north-east of England and another to the north-west at the request of Roy Hodgson, who wishes to recreate a tournament feel.
The manager and his assistants, Ray Lewington and Gary Neville, have identified their preferred opponents for the May fixtures, with the Socceroos probably joined by two European teams. Portugal are likely to be one of them.
The FA is expected to confirm all three opponents and venues later this month but the final friendly before the tournament in France is set to take place at Wembley.
England have not played Australia since the friendly at Upton Park in 2003, when the Socceroos beat Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side 3-1. Australian media say this year’s match will be on 27 May.
