By Dan King - Newcastle United Club Reporter

Young defender Paul Dummett admits to being surprised when he was called up for Newcastle's trip to Portugal - but after his last taste of first-team tour experience, he's more than capable of taking it in his stride.

The 20-year-old flew out to the Algarve with Alan Pardew's senior stars on Thursday morning for their warm-weather training camp and friendly fixtures against Olympiakos and SC Braga.

Ironically it'll be a year on Friday since he played against Columbus Crew after being catapulted into the squad for the final game of last season's tour to America. On that occasion, he had been in Holland with the Reserves when Peter Beardsley took a call from the manager en route to Amsterdam, stopped the bus and told Dummett to pack his bags for Ohio.

But this time the former Kenton School pupil is involved from the start and, as he told nufc.co.uk, intends to make the most of any opportunities which come his way.

"It was a big surprise," admitted Dummett, who has been with Newcastle since the age of nine. "I was just sitting there changing and waiting to go to training and Steve Stone came in.

"Considering I didn't go to Germany, I didn't think I'd be playing any part in any of the games in pre-season but hopefully I can get on in the two games. We'll see what happens.

"There might be two different teams for each game and I might be on the bench both games - I'm not sure what the plans are - but hopefully I can get on in one of the games or even both games. I just need to be ready to come on and show the manager that I can help out if needed.

"It'll be a good experience for me, going there with a lot of top quality players, and I just need to watch and learn what they do and try to put that into practice to make my game better."

Dummett, who can play at left-back or centre-half, figured against Darlington and Leeds last summer either side of being summonsed Stateside. 

He travelled almost 4,000 miles to play in that game against Columbus, and impressed as a second-half substitute in a 3-0 victory despite arriving with no luggage due to delays to his flight.

"I went there and started on the bench but I came on and thought I did alright," he recalled. "So I need to go to Portugal and if I come on, I need to try and impress the manager.

"In America, I got there and didn't have my bag or anything, but this time I'm there from the start and I just need to enjoy it while I'm there and hopefully get a few minutes."

But although he's keen to play as much football as possible, there will be one sport that Dummett will be avoiding at all costs - despite the team hotel being situated within yards of a golf course.

"I don't think I'll be participating in the golf," he said. "I don't like golf; I can't stand it, actually, so I won't be doing that.

"I don't know what else is planned for the days apart from golf - but I'll be doing whatever else is planned!"