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Adam Armstrong is set to kick off the season at Newcastle United with Rafa Benitez’s bid to sign a striker likely to stretch into next week.

Newcastle will tie up deal for Mo Diame and Ciaran Clark today but Benitez is still keen on adding a couple of other players to his squad, including a centre-forward and a winger.

Armstrong has done enough in pre-season to ensure he starts the new campaign as third choice from Benitez’s available strikers with Aleksandar Mitrovic suspended for the first four matches.

Dwight Gayle and Ayoze Perez are likely to get the nod against Fulham on Friday night.

But there is a chance that Armstrong will get a run out at Craven Cottage too, the stadium where he made his debut for the Magpies in 2014.

When asked about Armstrong’s situation, Benitez told the Chronicle: “Maybe he will start with us. He is training well and he is doing fine.”

But Benitez has hinted that there is a decent chance Armstrong could be loaned out for the rest of the season.

Benitez said: “We don’t know what will happen, he is a young player who has the potential but I want to be sure to do my best for the team and the best for players.”