Newcastle United's pre-season schedule is taking shape with three dates already added to the pre-season fixture list for Steve Bruce's side.
The Magpies are planning two summer boot camps, one in the UK and one in Portugal, as Bruce and his players get ready to better last term's 12th place finish in the Premier League.
Bruce's side return to the club's Benton base on July 5 and have been afforded a lengthier break than the last close season which lasted just a few weeks due to the pandemic and the quick turnaround.
Here's how Newcastle's pre-season is looking at the moment.
July 5
Players return to the club's Training Centre in North Tyneside for testing and the first part of pre-season training which could be overseen by a new head of sports science after the departure of Jamie Harley.
The first few days of pre-season are likely to see Isaac Hayden back after a late season injury as well as Jamaal Lascelles with the skipper running again and raring to go.
July 11/12
United are understood to be setting off to the Algarve in Portugal for a pre-season training camp.
A friendly against Peterborough United has been pencilled in but is yet to be confirmed.
Newcastle visited Portugal in 2018 too, losing 4-0 to SC Braga and drawing 0-0 with FC Porto.
July 18
A significant day for the Magpies as they prepare for their first friendly games at York City's LNER Stadium and Harrogate's Wetherby Road.
Bruce is set to split the first-team squad up so that everybody gets a run out at either York or Harrogate.
For Bruce he could come face to face with another former Wallsend Boys Club product in Steve Watson, currently in charge of the Minstermen.
The York game is a 2pm kick off but we are still waiting for a start time at Harrogate, as well as ticket details for fans.
July 24
The Magpies will send an Under-23 side to Darlington's Blackwell Meadows.
Chris Hogg and Peter Ramage will be keen to get the summer off to a good start.
July 30
The Magpies first-team head back to Burton Albion for a pre-season friendly with the League One side.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's men are hoping that Bruce sends a strong team to the Pirelli Stadium.
August
Only one date in the diary so far and that's a Newcastle X1 set to face Gateshead on August 31.
At least one home first-team friendly is due to be added to the schedule for United.
