Following the shortest pre-season fixture programme we can recall (one public friendly and another couple of obscure and low-key kickabouts), United's U23s returned to competitive action on Monday.

Ben Dawson's side faced their Albion counterparts behind closed doors at the Baggies Palm training ground on the outskirts of Walsall and given that the two sides occupied the bottom two places in last season's competition (with the Baggies bottom), then a point was probably inevitable.

Falling behind to an eighth minute effort from Nathan Ferguson (although the WBA reporter gave it as an own goal by defender Stefan O'Connor), Newcastle trailed 0-1 at the interval.

Introducing new signing Rosaire Longelo for the second half, the winger took just four minutes to make an impact - feeding the ball to Owen Bailey, whose pass was turned in by Callum Roberts.

No less than 23 players who featured at this level last season have now left the club but the starting XI still has a familiar look to it: Freddie Woodman, Sean Longstaff, Victor Fernandez, Callum Roberts and Jamie Sterry all featuring for the senior side in pre-season. 

Liam Gibson meanwhile made his first competitive appearance since May 2017, having endured more treatment for colitis and there was a first start at this level for Kelland Watts, whose last pitch action was for England U19s in July. Also featuring for the first time in the U23 Premier League (although he has played in cup competitions) was Lewis Cass.    

Winger Rosaire Longelo debuted following his recent signing but fellow new arrival Yannick Toure wasn't included and neither were first team discards Rolando Aarons or Achraf Lazaar.