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Newcastle United will travel to Belgium for a friendly game with Sporting Club Lokeren to warm-up for their season in the Sky Bet Championship.

Sources in Belgium have confirmed to the Chronicle that the Magpies will take on their former Intertoto Cup opponents on July 24 with a kick off time at 6pm.

United met with Lokeren back in 2001 in the old Intertoto competition and thrashed the Belgians 4-0 before winning the second leg 1-0 during the Sir Bobby Robson era.

The Belgian side are delighted that Newcastle have accepted an invite to play with the game the grand finale of Lokeren’s annual “fan day”.

Lokeren play at the 9,560 capacity Daknamstadion with the venue just over an hour’s drive from Brussels.

Newcastle are yet to announce the fixture but they are also understood to have had friendly offers from Burnley and Doncaster Rovers.

Rafa Benitez opted for a lighter pre-season schedule for United this year after long haul trips to the United States and New Zealand in the last two summers.

United are also looking at the possibility of a home friendly against foreign opposition ahead of their Championship opener in the first week of August.