There may be no Premier League fixture for them this weekend, but United's stars have remained hard at work in their quest for a place in Europe next season.

Originally scheduled for a trip to Chelsea on Saturday, the Blues' involvement in the FA Cup semi-final means Newcastle are now without a game.

But there is no weekend off for the Magpies, who have recorded five consecutive wins, lifting themselves to joint-fourth place in the table. Instead, they were put through their paces with a tough session on Friday morning and welcomed back some familiar faces.

Striker Leon Best and goalkeeper Steve Harper returned to the training pitch after recent lay-offs. Best hasn't appeared since the start of February, when he was stretchered off in the early stages of our victory over Aston Villa.

All thoughts and preparations now turn to a home game against Stoke in just over a week, and Club Photographer Ian Horrocks was on hand at the Training Centre to snap the best of the action.