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, 24th October.

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