Confirmed Newcastle team v Bradford: Ritchie, Gayle, Shelvey, Perez all start
The Newcastle team v Bradford has been revealed for the third friendly of pre-season.
The hosts are ahead of NUFC in terms of preparation for the new season, with League One kicking off a week earlier than the Premier League.
Jonjo Shelvey captains the side tonight and perhaps the biggest news is that Matt Ritchie plays his first friendly after recovering from injury.
Karl Darlow is once again missing from the 22 involved tonight after having come in for 25 minutes on the pitch at Preston.
Of the four summer signings, Lejeuen and Atsu start, Murphy and Manquillo on the bench.
This is who Rafa Benitez starts with:
Elliot, Yedlin, Lejeune, Clark, Dummett, Atsu, Shelvey (c), Hayden, Ritchie, Pérez, Gayle
and the Subs:
Woodman, Gámez, Manquillo, Mbemba, Saivet, Colback, Diamé, Aarons, Murphy, De Jong, Mitrović
The full first team and reserve/Under 23 pre-season schedules are as follows so far –
The first team friendlies:
Friday 14 July – Hearts 1 Newcastle 2
Saturday 22 July – Preston 1 Newcastle 1
Wednesday 26 July – Bradford away 7.30pm
Saturday 29 July – Mainz away 4pm local time (3pm UK time)
Wednesday 2 August – Wolfsburg away 4pm local time (3pm UK time)
Sunday 6 August – Hellas Verona home 3pm
Under 23/Reserves pre-season friendlies:
Monday 17 July – Darlington 1 Newcastle 2
Saturday 22 July – Gateshead 0 Newcastle 3
Tuesday 25 July – Whitley Bay 0 Newcastle 0
Thursday 27 July – Celtic (at Whitby Town)
Saturday 29 July – AZ Alkmaar or Whitby (at Whitby Town)
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