NEWCASTLE: Newcastle United kicked off their pre-season campaign on Saturday with a 5-1 victory over Tyneside neighbors Gateshead, in which Paraguay international Miguel Almiron put on a two-goal spectacle.

Matt Ritchie, Joelinton and Sean Longstaff also found the net for the Magpies during the game at their training base in Benton, while Paul Blackett grabbed consolation for the club led by former United centre-back Mike Williamson.

Head coach Eddie Howe said he was delighted with his players’ ruthless display against their National League opponent.

“You always watch your attitude,” he said. “I think both teams wanted to win. We played some really good things with the ball and naturally had a lot of possession. You saw excellent counter-attacks at the end of the match where we showed a real ruthless team. I just wish we could show it sooner.

Howe fielded two almost entirely different formations either side of the half, with only young defender Kell Watts playing the full 90 minutes.

“It was a good practice; hot, but that’s what you want to replicate, what that first day will be like,” Howe said. “A tough game, good opposition and 45 minutes (for each player) with a little run at the end – I think the players got what they needed.

“It was just about reintroducing the guys to a life-size pitch. At this stage of the season, eight days later, we didn’t want to push them too much, so it was ideal. At this stage there is always a bit of rust to get out of the players game.

“I think we got better as we went along. Some things we did well, some things we didn’t, but there’s still a long way to go before that first game of the season.

Veteran Ritchie opened the scoring for United when he latched on to a low cross from rising star Elliot Anderson, before slotting the ball past Heed keeper Dan Langley, who joined the fifth tier side from Newcastle last week.

Shortly after the break, Longstaff was knocked down in the box and Brazilian Joelinton, United’s player of the season last season, scored from the spot.

Blackett rounded goalkeeper Karl Darlow to halve the deficit before United stepped on the accelerator, inspired by livewire Almiron. The striker blasted past the entire Gateshead backline to latch on to a pass from Emil Krafth and make it 3-1. He extended the lead from close range soon after, before Longstaff, who missed a second-half penalty, added a fifth from the penalty spot.

New boys Sven Botman and Nick Pope played no role in the game but watched from the sidelines, as did fellow internationals Bruno Guimaraes, Fabian Schar and Chris Wood. That is unlikely to be the case when United take on German sides 1860 Munich and Mainz in Austria on July 15 and 18 respectively.

“With these guys, we didn’t want to push them too fast. We wanted to give them a little more time and be careful with them,” Howe said. “We hope we can keep the majority of the squad fit.

“Austria will be a big moment for us. We have a lot of work to cram into a very short time. I think the guys will go there and enjoy the 10-day week and when we come back we will be a lot more advances.

In the meantime, Howe is full of praise for Saturday’s show star Almiron.

“Two great goals,” he said. “He showed his athleticism with the former and a certain composure with the latter.

“He didn’t do a lot of training and we gave him a bit more time (break), with the other international players, but physically he didn’t show any problems.”