Before flying to Belgium for Thursday night's Europa League Group D fixture with Club Brugge, Alan Pardew and his players trained on Tyneside as they went through their final preparations.

Three points would guarantee United's place in the next stage with two group games to spare and Pardew will send out a team aiming to get the job done, with captain Fabricio Coloccini set to start.  

However, Pardew has also used the competition to blood some of his young players and the likes of Sammy Ameobi, Gael Bigirimana, Mehdi Abeid and James Tavernier were all trying to catch the manager's eye, as was Spanish striker Xisco.

It was not only the manager who was keeping a close watch on things, though - Club Photographer Ian Horrocks was also there to bring nufc.co.uk this exclusive gallery.