NEWCASTLE UNITED have confirmed they will be playing two friendlies in Australia in the week immediately after the final weekend of the Premier League season.

As soon as the domestic campaign concludes, Eddie Howe and his players will jet off to Melbourne to play in a lucrative double-header Down Under.

Newcastle will take on fellow Premier League side Tottenham at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Wednesday, May 22 (7.45pm Australian time) to mark the start of the city’s ‘Global Football Week – Melbourne’ event. Tottenham are managed by Melbourne-born Ange Postecoglou.

The Magpies will then remain in Melbourne to face the A-League All Star Men in the Marvel Stadium on Friday, May 24 (5.15pm Australian time). The game forms part of a double-header that will also see the A-League All Star Women’s team take on Arsenal Women.

The post-season trip will mark Newcastle’s first visit to Oceania since July 2014, when they took on Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand.

Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe: “This is a great opportunity to showcase Newcastle United at two iconic venues in an iconic city as the club continues to grow globally.

“We are privileged to have so many incredible supporters around the world, and it’s a chance to be able to play in front of many in Australia who wouldn’t ordinarily get the chance to see the team.

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“We look forward to engaging with our supporters in Melbourne and giving them the opportunity to feel closer to the club.”

It remains to be seen whether the trip could have a negative impact on Kieran Trippier and Anthony Gordon's chances of making the England squad for this summer's European Championships.

A decision on the Newcastle squad boarding the plane to Australia will be made nearer to the time, but if Trippier and Gordon are included in Newcastle's travelling group, and James Maddison features for Tottenham, Gareth Southgate could see three players potentially in his Euro 2024 squad fly halfway across the world days before they link up on international duty.

Maddison and Gordon were named in the England squad for the March friendlies with Brazil and Belgium, while Trippier is a strong candidate to feature at this summer’s European Championship in Germany.

It is possible all three could head to Australia for the post-season friendly and, days after they return to England, would be required to join Southgate’s squad for a training camp ahead of Euro 2024.