Young Magpies learn International Cup opponents

Peter Beardsley and Ben Dawson will lead a young Magpies side in the competition, with United one of 12 British Academy sides to have been invited to take part, along with 12 second-string sides from around Europe.

Newcastle have been drawn in Group A, and will face Liverpool, AC Sparta Prague and PSV Eindhoven, and will open their Premier League International Cup campaign against Sparta Prague at Whitley Park on Tuesday, 24^th October.

An away game against Liverpool – which will be played at Prenton Park, home of Tranmere Rovers – will follow on Wednesday, 15^th November, before United complete the group stage with the visit of PSV Eindhoven to Whitley Park on Tuesday, 12^th December.

The six group winners from every group, plus the two best runners-up, will progress to the quarter-final stage.

Each team will be predominantly made up of under-23s, with a maximum of three outfield players and a goalkeeper permitted to be overage.

Among the other British clubs taking part in the competition are Manchester United, Celtic, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, while Bayern Munich, Benfica, Villarreal and FC Porto will also compete.

Premier League International Cup 2017/18

Group A

Newcastle United
Liverpool
PSV Eindhoven
AC Sparta Prague

Group B

Leicester City
Sunderland
Hertha Berlin
Legia Warsaw

Group C

Everton
Derby County
Dinamo Zagreb
VfL Wolfsburg

Group D

Manchester United
Swansea City
Celtic
Athletic Club Bilbao

Group E

Arsenal
Reading
Bayern Munich
FC Porto

Group F

Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United
Benfica
Villarreal

Newcastle United Under-23s’ Premier League International Cup Group A fixtures

Tuesday, 24^th October  

Newcastle United Under-23s v AC Sparta Prague (7pm)

Wednesday, 15^th November     

Liverpool v Newcastle United Under-23s (7pm)

Tuesday, 12^th December              

Newcastle United Under-23s v PSV Eindhoven (7pm)