In pictures: Players arrive for pre-season training

Newcastle United's players returned to the club's Benton training ground on Thursday for the first day of pre-season training.

Although the likes of Miguel Almíron, Fabian Schär, Martin Dúbravka and Christian Atsu have been given an extended break after playing for their respective national teams over the summer, skipper Jamaal Lascelles was joined by team mates including Paul Dummett, Jonjo Shelvey and Florian Lejeune to begin preparations for the 2019/20 Premier League campaign.

With the process of appointing a new manager ongoing, Academy head of coaching Ben Dawson and Under-23s head coach Neil Redfearn oversaw testing with the club's medical staff, while club photographer Serena Taylor also kept a close eye on proceedings to bring nufc.co.uk this gallery.