With many new and exciting features expected for the Match Previews on Newcastle-Online in the new season as well as a new and exciting layout being prepared, for the Pre-Season previews we will be offering only a small snippet of what to expect in the future. We start with Sam Allardyce’s first game as Newcastle manager, away to Hartlepool United.

» The Squads

Newcastle: Given, Harper, Krul, Ramage, Edgar, Huntington, Babayaro, Geremi, Carr, Rozehnal, Solano, N’Zogbia, Milner, Butt, Pattison, LuaLua, Troisi, Barton, Luque, Dyer, Martins, Owen, Ameobi, Carroll.

Hartlepool: Lee-Barrett, Barron, Elliott, Nelson, Liddle, Clark, Humphreys, Porter, Barker, Monkhouse, Sweeney, Bullock, Boland, Brown, Budtz, Robson, Gibb, Mackay, Turnbull, Foley, Maidens, Rae, Antwi, McCunnie, Moore

» Injuries and Suspensions

For Newcastle United, Emre is doubtful with an ankle injury which he picked up during the Summer while Damien Duff (knee) will definitely not play after being ruled out until the late months of the year with a major problem. Meanwhile, fresh from the UEFA U21 Championships, Steven Taylor will sit out with an ankle problem.

For the Pools, injury details are not known but all of boss Danny Wilson’s six summer signings are expected to play some part in the tie. That means we’ll be seeing appearances from Arran Lee-Barrett, Godwin Antwi, Jan Budtz and Jamie McCunnie.

» Head2Head
Competition Played Newcastle Draw Hartlepool
League 0 0 0 0
FA Cup 1 1 0 0
League Cup 0 0 0 0

Newcastle United have only faced local neighbours Hartlepool in a competitive match on one occaison, in the FA Cup 3rd Round back in 1925; on that day Newcastle came out 4-1 winners at St James Park. They have however faced Hartlepool in a number of friendlies, in most of which the Pools came up against a United reserve side.

The most notable first team friendly in recent history is that from August 2003 when the Magpies travelled to Victoria Park and came out 6-0 victors. On that day, United legend Alan Shearer grabbed a hattrick with all of his goals coming in the first half. The other goals came from now-Liverpool forward Craig Bellamy and Magpie seniors Gary Speed and Nobby Solano.

» What the Managers have to say

Newcastle Manager Sam Allardyce:

“Joey and David seemed to fit in very well.”

“I think that they are probably two opposites, Joey likes to do a lot of talking and David keeps himself to himself, but they mingled well in the end.

Hartlepool Manager Danny Wilson:

“It’s our first test of pre-season and it’s one we’re looking forward to.”

“Hopefully there’ll be a healthy crowd in The Vic and they can see an entertaining game of football.”

» Predicted Lineup

Shay Given

Nolberto Solano
David Rozenhal
Peter Ramage
Celestine Babayaro

Joey Barton
Nicky Butt
Kieron Dyer

Obafemi Martins
Shola Ameobi
Michael Owen

» Match Prediction

This game is very difficult to call because absolutely anything could happen in a friendly match. I think that the ‘new look’ Newcastle will come out on top in this and will take the game by the scruff of the neck by picking up a 3-1 victory with Martins, Ameobi and Butt getting the goals.