Newcastle United To Play Berwick Friendly Friday 7th September

Alan Pardew's Newcastle United will use the two week international break well this season rather than heading off for sunnier climbs as they have done in the past by playing a friendly up at Scottish Third Division side Berwich Rangers. The game will take place at Berwick's Shielfield Park, with kick-off set for 7.45pm, and entrance available, according to Berwick by paying on the turnstiles - £8 for adults and £4 concessions. Some Newcastle fans will welcome the news of the game, as the squad currently looks lacking in fitness and this might be the perfect opportunity to get a bit more match fitness into some of the key men. There is no word yet of what sort of squad will travel, but the decision to play a mid-season friendly has got to be for a specific reason, and it would seem that added fitness is the biggest possibility here. Defender Steven Taylor spoke to the club's official website about the much needed rest the break from competitive action would bring to the squad:

"The lads need it. With playing European football on top of the Premier League games, it gives us a chance to get our legs ready and refresh ahead of the next match. Team bonding could be anything - a golf day, paintballing or anything like that. I don't know. The gaffer will surprise the boys and it should be good. As long as everyone is together then that's the main thing. It's what Newcastle United is all about - team spirit. We keep touching upon that. Last year we were a very tight unit. We are a small squad, we realise that, but if we stick together then we won't go far wrong. It's a massive honour for the lads who are going away to play for their country. But it's great for the rest of us to recover and if there are any little niggles or anything like that, then it gives people time to get back."

But it seems Taylor's rest will have to wait until after Friday night's game against Berwick.