6 mins Joelinton won a free kick on the United left that Matt Ritchie swung over and was nodded away from the edge of the six yard box at the Leazes End by a visiting player. Falling to Jacob Murphy just outside the box, the makeshift right back took a touch to elude an opponent before steadying himself and hammering a rising shot between the goalkeeper and his near post.

The goalscorer's celebrations including simulating a baseball shot - a reference to the squad's pre-season team building event playing that game in the USA. 1-0

Half time: Newcastle 1 Villarreal 0 

62 mins Jacob Murphy's perfect pass set Callum Wilson away down the right and Joelinton then unselfishly set up the scoring chance that Harvey Barnes gratefully gobbled up, steering home a low right-footed shot from the left hand corner of the six yard box. 2-0

76 mins Joelinton ghosted past Lanchi in the centre circle, charging forward and driving home via a post from just outside the Villarreal area at the Gallowgate End. 3-0

79 mins Matt Ritchie stretched to rob an opponent and set Wilson away down the right. United's number 9 reached the box and rolled the ball across the box for Harvey Barnes to slam in his second goal of the game. 4-0

Full time: Newcastle 4 Villarreal 0

Eddie Howe said:

"I think pre-season has been pretty good. I think we always analyse what the players give and from day one, the players have done really well to execute what we have tried to do.

"They have given everything physically. It has been an intense period but I compliment the group. I don't think that we have quite hit our best levels in terms of performance but today we followed the line of performing well. We were good in defence and good on the counter attack so promising signs from the team.

"We got better in the latter stages of both games so there's positive signs regarding our fitness levels.

"It is only pre-season. It is nice to win a trophy but it is not the one we want. We are determined to win something, we are searching for that success. You dream of winning things, of lifting silverware. I want this place to be the same."

On Harvey Barnes:

"When you sign a player with the attributes you want, you are not asking them to do anything they are not comfortable with. Harvey (Barnes) looked good in the team. He performed really well. 

"I was delighted with the two goals and the two finishes. Physically, he looked good as well. 

"Every player is different and Harvey will have experienced Callum (Wilson) and Joelinton today. It is really good to see relationships blossoming - they will get stronger over time, it takes time to gel."

On Jacob Murphy:

"Jacob did that role for us last year, wherever I played him, whether it be left, right, on the wing, various positions, he was excellent for us and his attitude absolutely epitomised the squad. 

"A brilliant team player and I thought he was outstanding today in that right-back position and he had no complaints doing it so full credit to him."

Paul Dummett on Anthony Taylor:

"During the game, there were a lot of fouls from us and them. The referee said, 'I'm getting you ready for European football because this is what the referees will be like.' I thought that a lot of them were pretty soft. I should have had a goal."

Quique Setien said:

To follow...

Setien has been in post since replacing Unai Emery when he joined Aston Villa in October 2022 - having turned down Newcastle. He previously had a spell as Barcelona coach in 2020.

Selling last season's top scorer Nicolas Jackson to Chelsea (he scored against us for them last month), the Yellow Submarine have signed Alexander Sorloth and Ben Brereton Díaz. The former was a previous team mate of Alexander Isak at Real Sociedad and also played for Crystal Palace. Stoke born Diaz played at SJP for previous clubs Nottingham Forest and Blackburn Rovers. 

Defeat at SJP concluded a poor pre-season for Villarreal, with just one win in seven outings and conceding 18 goals while scoring just six. Their La Liga opener is Real Betis on Sunday and a fifth place finish last season secured a place in the group stage of the Europa League this time round.
 

Youngster Ben Parkinson got further pitch time in the closing stages, while there was a also first senior outing for Guinea-born U21 winger Amadou Diallo before the full time whistle sounded.

Most of the 34,621 crowd stayed on to salute the players and coaches as they completed a lap of honour while a temporary stage was erected on the pitch.

Club captain Jamaal Lascelles was then presented with the cup, another friendly trophy to go with the Diriyah Season Cup won in December 2022.

And so ends pre-season; seven games without defeat watched by over 260,000 fans. Existing players in form, youngsters realising their potential and new arrivals showing their promise. Save for the injuries to Fabian Schar and Joe Willock it's all immensely positive.

Eddie Howe's main challenge is how to best deploy the wealth of attacking options at his disposal - and also manage the expectations of those not selected.

Despite their form last season however, doubts remain in our mind about the back line in front of Pope - not least the unresolved left back question and concerns over cover in central defence.    

Fighting on four fronts for the first time in a decade will necessarily require different team selections: the signing of Tino Livramento an admission that Kieran Trippier cannot be a man for all seasons and all games, but he's not the only one.

Trusting that the experience of Dummett and Lascelles can outweigh their lack of pace seems like a risk, while the long-term absence of Emil Krafth means that he'll have a lot of catching up to do. 

Notwithstanding the encouraging start Alex Murphy has made, not to sign further defensive reinforcements seems like an unnecessary risk. Still, there's three weeks of the window to go.

Biffa

We were sorry to learn that NUFC.com reader Barry Sweeney died today ( Sunday) after a short illness.  Known to many as the father of MH17 plane crash victim Liam, he was also a local league referee of many years standing. Our condolences to his friends and family.