NEWCASTLE UNITED play the first game in a weekend double-header of friendly action when they take on Italian side Atalanta on Friday evening.

Here are the details of the game - and how you can watch it...


WHERE IS THE GAME TAKING PLACE?

After a series of matches overseas, this will be Newcastle's first pre-season game at St James' Park.

It kicks off a weekend double-header at the Magpies' home ground, which will also see them host Spanish side Athletic Bilbao on Saturday afternoon.


WHAT TIME IS KICK-OFF?

Friday's game will start at 7.45pm


ARE TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE?

Tickets for Friday's game against Atalanta are still available via Newcastle United's website, although the prices will increase on matchday itself.

Any tickets bought before matchday will be priced at £20 for adults and £10 for concessions.

On the day of the game, these prices will increase to £25 for adults and £15 for concessions.

Newcastle are also advising that there could be travel disruption on the day of the Atalanta game because of a planned Metro line closure.

Nexus, the public body which owns and manages Metro, has put a 14-day line closure in place from Saturday, 16th July to Friday, 29th July - the day of the Atalanta game - to allow for major modernisation work.

The line will be closed between St. James' and Tynemouth, but Metro customers can use their tickets and passes on 11 local bus services which will be running in the affected area.


IS THE GAME BEING TELEVISED OR STREAMED LIVE?

There is no domestic television coverage of Friday's game, and unlike with Newcastle's overseas friendlies, the match will not be streamed live via the club's official website.

There is TV coverage of the game in Italy, with DAZN due to be providing live coverage of the match.


WHAT MIGHT NEWCASTLE'S SIDE BE?

With Newcastle playing two friendlies in the space of 24 hours, Eddie Howe is expected to split his squad between the two games.

Joelinton is suspended for the Atalanta game, following his dismissal in the closing stages of Tuesday's 3-2 defeat to Benfica.

There are doubts over Jonjo Shelvey, who injured his knee in the Benfica game, and Martin Dubravka, who was not involved in the Estadio da Luz.

Javier Manquillo, Kell Watts, Jamal Lewis and Federico Fernandez are all definitely unavailable.


HOW ARE ATALANTA SHAPING UP?

This will be Newcastle's first meeting with Atalanta at any kind of senior level.

Friday's opponents finished eighth in Serie A last season, and are warming up for their first game of the new season against Sampdoria on August 13.

Their striker, Duvan Zapata, will be of particular interest to Newcastle fans as the Colombian has been heavily linked with a possible move to St James' Park.

There is one member of the Atalanta squad with previous experience of playing in the North-East as midfielder Marten de Roon spent a season playing with Middlesbrough.