Steve Bruce said:

On Matt Ritchie's injury:

"We hope it's not serious. That's the awful thing tonight, because we're a bit shy in that area. He'll have a scan in the next 48 hours, and hopefully it's not too bad. 

"He's nicked a hamstring. Whether it's a strain or how serious it is, we do not know. But for him to come off is not a good sign."

On the goalkeeping situation:

"(Martin) Dubravka is fine. He’s at home. It was always our aim to give the two other lads 90 minutes. Martin will be in goal in Saturday. 

"He is our number one goalkeeper and will remain so. The stuff that’s circulating about him is not true...there’s nothing sinister going on at all.

On Joelinton and Almiron:

"All strikers want to score, let’s hope this is one of many. He is up and running, you can see the huge appetite in the boy (Joelinton).

"They're a threat and they've already enjoyed playing with each other, you can see that straight away. They will be a threat to anybody. They both can run and they complement each other.

“They could be a little bit more clinical, but overall I was very, very pleased with the performance of the two of them."

On claims that Ciaran Clark could be sold:

"The way we are with the injury to (Florian) Lejeune and playing with three centre backs, if I let something happen to Ciaran Clark, we’d leave ourselves a bit short. I can’t really do that... I’ve had a quiet word with him and we move on.

On transfers:

“We’re still working away well into the night and once we do (succeed) we’ll announce it to the supporters. Hopefully, we’ll have some good news soon.

"These days, transfers seem to take an eternity. But, be patient - I’m still quietly confident we’ll manage to bring a few in.

On claims in the Record about James Tavernier:

"I really don’t know where that’s come from. 

"Any manager will be the same, I hate it when any manager talks about my players so I won’t comment on anyone else’s. But I don’t know where that’s come from. 

"I’ve been linked with about 32 right-backs and another two today.”

Paul Heckingbottom said: 

"We got more than that from I thought to be honest. We weren’t really fussed about it but it was a good one for the players and the fans, to see the calibre of players were up against. but it’s a million miles away from St Mirren on Saturday. 

"I’d have rather had have the full week. Having said that, it was a good work out. 

"The pleasing thing was how much we were stretched. It would’ve been pointless trying to sit in and contain them because we aren’t going to play that way. It was about trying to create space and gaps and try and counter them. 

"We’re facing things then that we might face at Ibrox in the second game.”

Club record signing Joelinton scored his first senior goal for the club as Newcastle came from behind to beat Hibernian at Easter Road on Tuesday evening.

Sean Longstaff and Jamaal Lascelles were also on target in Edinburgh but there was worrying news for Steve Bruce, as Matt Ritchie left the pitch during the first half with a hamstring injury that will require a scan.

United took to the field wearing their home kit as the pre-game downpour thankfully ceased, with Bruce's side defending the end housing a vocal away contingent.

But the three man backline was breached after just ten minutes when Stevie Mallan beat Karl Darlow with a clean strike from the edge of the box.

Ritchie went down shortly after with nobody near him and got up and walked straight off with Rolando Aarons replacing him at left wing-back - a position he struggled in when played there previously by Steve McClaren.

Miggy Almiron went close in the 15th minute, heading a Jonjo Shelvey ball from the right just wide.

But a minute later the scores were level and Joelinton had his goal, thanks a first time effort from close range from a great ball from Javier Manquillo on the right.

Home custodian Ofir Marciano blocked another Almiron effort in the 24th minute with his foot but was helpless to stop Longstaff's firm shot from the edge of the area ten minutes before the break.

Rather than the mass change of personnel seen at Preston on Saturday, United made no half time substitutions and continued to push on - Fabian Schar and Isaac Hayden both augmenting the attacks.

Joelinton should have made it 3-1 on the hour when he elected to pass to Isaac Hayden, rather than shooting and the 'keeper cut out his weak attempted pass.

Hibernian enjoyed their best period of possession but the intensity of the game inevitably dropped until Lascelles got on the end of an Aarons cross and thumped a header home from six yards with 18 minutes remaining.

The hosts begin their league campaign on Saturday and have been playing competitive League Cup games for several weeks, but caused Newcastle few real problems save for a few speculative long range efforts.

Probably on a par with our last opponents Preston, both sides suffered from a lack of forward presence and as a consequence the United defence wasn't truly tested. 

However there were still some weighty challenges, including one on Joelinton on halfway that left him sprawled out on the turf during the opening half.

The Brazilian's movement on and off the ball caught the eye and the development of an understanding with both Almiron and Shelvey promises to be crucial to our attacking aspirations this season.

While he's got his goal though, Miggy really could do with one after missing the penalty at Preston and spurning another couple of opportunities here tonight.

Had we taken our chances, then this could have been a Leith walkover, but the victory was well deserved and notable for some displays of a level not always seen in games of this nature - Manquillo certainly up for it and Yoshinori Muto trying to make an impression.

The Ritchie blow though highlights the lack of genuine depth in the squad and renews concerns that struggles in the transfer market will see previously discarded players back in the side by default rather than merit.

Biffa