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Team news: In-form Almirón starts against Atalanta
Written by Tom Easterby
In-form Miguel Almirón will start for Newcastle United in Friday night's friendly against Italian side Atalanta (7:45pm kick-off).
United face the Serie A outfit at St. James' Park in their first home warm-up game of the summer, with Athletic Bilbao also set to face the Magpies on Saturday afternoon.
Head coach Eddie Howe is splitting his squad between the two fixtures, with Kieran Trippier, Sean Longstaff and matchday programme cover star Almirón - who has bagged six goals in pre-season so far - among the first teamers named in what is a Newcastle squad for Friday's outing.
Nick Pope will start in goal with Trippier, Fabian Schär, Dan Burn and Matt Targett lining up in defence.
Youngster Elliot Anderson will play in midfield, with Longstaff also in the engine room and Almirón pushing forward at number ten.
And up front, Chris Wood will have support from Jacob Murphy and Ryan Fraser on the flanks as Howe's men look to kick off their weekend in style.
It is a largely inexperienced bench, though, with goalkeeper Mark Gillespie and midfielder Matty Longstaff the two eldest players named.
Santiago Muñoz is named among the substitutes for the first time, alongside defender Matty Bondswell - who impressed against Benfica on Tuesday night - and Jay Turner-Cooke, who has trained with Howe's first team in pre-season.
Fellow under-21s Lucas De Bolle, Dylan Stephenson, Alex Murphy and Lewis Miley could be handed their senior debuts should they enter the fray at any stage during Friday's action.
Newcastle United: Nick Pope; Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schär, Dan Burn, Matt Targett; Elliot Anderson, Sean Longstaff; Jacob Murphy, Miguel Almirón, Ryan Fraser; Chris Wood.
Substitutes: Mark Gillespie, Alex Murphy, Matty Bondswell, Matty Longstaff, Lewis Miley, Lucas De Bolle, Jay Turner-Cooke, Santiago Muñoz, Dylan Stephenson.