Botman and Joelinton bonuses as Newcastle United win pre-season friendly 4-0 on Saturday | OneFootball

The first Newcastle United friendly of pre-season ended Newcastle 4 Carlisle 0.

The behind closed doors Saturday match was played at United’s training ground.

A big bonus to see that amongst those involved were Joelinton and Sven Botman, who both missed the end of last season through injury.

Indeed, the Brazil international getting one of the goals, with Sean Longstaff, Ben Parkinson and Jacob Murphy getting the other three.

Only seven days now until the first of the six pre-season friendlies to be played in front of supporters, with 10,000+ Newcastle United fans heading up to Celtic.

Just five weeks now until the season kicks off at Aston Villa.

‘Goals from Sean Longstaff, Joelinton, Jacob Murphy and Ben Parkinson helped Newcastle United kick off their 2025/26 pre-season campaign with a behind-closed-doors victory over Carlisle United.

The Cumbrians, managed by Mark Hughes, visited the Magpies’ Training Centre for the friendly, which allowed Eddie Howe’s side to step up their preparations for the season ahead after they returned to training earlier in the week.

Both teams fielded different XIs in each half and Longstaff – who had been denied by Gabriel Breeze early on – opened the scoring midway through the first period with a spectacular, swerving long-range strike.

With new signing Anthony Elanga watching his new team-mates hours after his move from Nottingham Forest was completed on Friday night, Nick Pope kept out an Elliot Embleton free kick before Joe Willock fired wide after a strong burst into the box.

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In the opening exchanges of the second half, a neat move saw Jacob Murphy play in Harvey Barnes, but his shot was kept out by Harry Lewis.

Then the same two players combined, with Murphy’s teasing cross from the right headed wide by Barnes.

But Joelinton scored the hosts’ second of the afternoon when he won possession from a reaction press high up the pitch, then slotted home.

And Murphy made it three, rounding the goalkeeper and a couple of defenders following Barnes’ cutback.

Young forward Parkinson rounded off the scoring when he impressively flicked on to Barnes, who switched play to Murphy, with Parkinson improvising to backheel the ensuing cross into the net.

It made for an encouraging start to pre-season for the Magpies, whose next test sees them take on Celtic in seven days’ time.

Newcastle United (first half): Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Jamaal Lascelles, William Osula, Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff, Alex Murphy, Lewis Miley, Trevan Sanusi, Leo Shahar, Sean Neave

Newcastle United (second half): John Ruddy, Sven Botman, Fabian Schär, Joelinton, Harvey Barnes, Matt Targett, Jacob Murphy, Joe White, Harrison Ashby, Ben Parkinson, Travis Hernes

The six announced public Newcastle United friendlies announced so far:

Saturday 19 July – Celtic v Newcastle

Sunday 27 July – Arsenal v Newcastle (In Singapore)

Wednesday 30 July – Team K-League all stars v Newcastle (In South Korea)

Sunday 3 August – Tottenham v Newcastle (In South Korea)

Friday 8 August – Newcastle v Espanyol (St James’ Park)