10 Things Newcastle Fans Need To Know About Club Atlas
Just who are NUFC's latest pre-season opponents?
Steve McClaren has his first-ever Newcastle United match out of the way and, following the comfortable if unspectacular 1-0 victory over Gateshead at the International Stadium last Friday, the Magpies' head coach is readying himself to take charge of the opening game of the club's US tour. With Newcastle's players having flown across the Pond on Sunday, they have had just two days to acclimatise before their opening fixture of the nine-day tour. First-up for the Magpies on their trip to "the land of the brave and home of the free" are Mexican side Club Atlas - with the venue for the match being Miller Park in Milwaukee (kick-off 2am BST for those in Britain; 8pm Central Time for those in America). Starting their trip in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in north-east USA, the Magpies will then head to Bonney Field in Scaramento, California, to face Sacramento Republic FC on Sunday, before concluding their US tour at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon, with a game against Portland Timbers on Tuesday July 21st. However, before continuing on their arduous trip around the rest of the USA, Newcastle must first overcome Club Atlas on Tuesday night (8pm CT kick-off in America)/Wednesday morning (2am BST kick-off in the UK). So who exactly are Club Atlas? And which players such the Magpies be wary of? Well, here's 10 things Newcastle United fans need to know about Club Atlas ahead of the club's pre-season friendly against the Mexican side...