NEWCASTLE UNITED kicked off their Premier League Summer Series campaign in an entertaining fashion as they drew 3-3 with Aston Villa in Philadelphia.

The Magpies were in trouble from the off as they conceded two goals in the opening 11 minutes to Ollie Watkins and Emi Buendia, but levelled before the break thanks to goals from Elliot Anderson and Alexander Isak.

Buendia’s close-range strike restored Villa’s lead early in the second half, but Callum Wilson struck to ensure Newcastle would finish level in a game that was a dress rehearsal for the first game of the Premier League season on August 12.

Eddie Howe named a strong side for Newcastle’s opening game of their US trip, and also handed Harvey Barnes a first Magpies appearance, with the midfielder coming off the bench for the final 20 minutes just hours after his transfer from Leicester City had been confirmed.

Villa were rewarded for a strong start after just seven minutes when Watkins converted after being set up by Buendia.

Unai Emery’s side doubled their lead four minutes later when John McGinn set up Buendia for a low strike that beat Martin Dubravka in the Magpies goal.

Newcastle needed something to get them back into the game, and it came courtesy of Anderson on the half-hour mark. The midfielder beat the Villa offside trap as he latched onto a long ball from Jacob Murphy and turned inside Ezri Konsa before slotting home.

Anderson was also heavily involved in Newcastle’s equaliser just before the interval, driving in a shot that was saved by Emi Martinez, only for Isak to hammer home the rebound.

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Howe made eight half-time changes, but the Magpies’ remodelled side fell behind again two minutes into the second half. Dubravka turned Omari Kellyman’s goal-bound strike onto the post, but Buendia reacted quickest to sweep home the rebound and claim his second goal of the evening.

Newcastle levelled again shortly after though, as another rebound was converted. Jamaal Lascelles picked out Anthony Gordon with a long ball, and while his shot was saved by Robin Olsen, Wilson rolled the rebound into an empty net.

The Magpies saw two decent penalty appeals waved away as they pushed for another goal, with Wilson and Gordon both feeling they had been fouled, but Buendia should really have won it for Villa when he pulled a shot wide as he went searching for a hat-trick.

Newcastle made their most notable change of the night with 20 minutes left, with Barnes coming off the bench to replace Matt Targett and make his first appearance for the club.


Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Dubravka; Trippier, Schar (Lascelles 46), Dummett (Botman 46), Targett (Barnes 70); Guimaraes (Ritchie 46), Tonali (Joelinton 46), Anderson (Burn 46); Almiron (Gordon 46), Isak (Wilson 46), Murphy (Miley 46).