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Newcastle United got their pre-season campaign off to a promising start with a 2-1 victory over Scottish Premiership side Hearts at Tynecastle - thanks to a brace from Dwight Gayle.

The Magpies No 9 scored twice in the first half to hand Rafa Benitez’s men a decent victory over former Newcastle assistant Ian Cathro’s Jam Tarts side, with Jamie Walker finding the back of the net for Hearts.

It was an interesting Friday night in Edinburgh, with a number of fringe players being afforded the opportunity to impress - while Florian Lejeune also made his debut as a second-half substitute.

Here’s what NUFC Writer Chris Waugh learned from Newcastle’s pre-season opener north of the border...

1. A few late arrivals in Last-Chance Saloon

Pre-season signals the end for some players, but it also offers others the opportunity to relaunch their black-and-white careers a la Yoan Gouffran 2016.

At Hearts, it was interesting to see Siem de Jong back in the starting line-up following his loan at PSV Eindhoven last season, as well as Chancel Mbemba and Massaido Haidara given a start. Rolando Aarons also returned from another long-term injury to start.

On the bench, Grant Hanley - who is available for transfer - was a surprise inclusion, as were Achraf Lazaar, Jesus Gamez and Henri Saivet.

It was De Jong and Aarons who really caught eye at Tynecastle though.

The former has just returned from a season-long loan at PSV Eindhoven and looked like a man with a point to prove.

Newcastle need a No 10 in order for Benitez’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation to function, and perhaps the Dutchman is that man. He showed vision and poise throughout - particularly when he turned in the middle of his own and then threaded a delicious through-ball to release Gayle for the opener.

Aarons, meanwhile, has been blighted by injury in recent seasons - but his talent is undoubted.

The England youth international showed his blistering pace, trickery and skill in this match, and rattled the woodwork twice.

Benitez is in the market for another winger but, on the evidence of this, Aarons could find himself a regular fixture in the side if he can stay fit.

(Image: The Chronicle)

2. Farewell, Karl Darlow?

This first pre-season match was always going to reveal a lot about those fringe players who face an uncertain future.

It was the goalkeeper situation which was perhaps the most intriguing on the night. Rob Elliot and Freddie Woodman were included in the squad - but neither Tim Krul nor Karl Darlow featured, with Benitez actively searching for another goalkeeper.

Krul is being given the opportunity to prove himself to Benitez in pre-season but did not play - while Darlow, who remains in talks with Middlesbrough about a transfer to Teesside despite an excellent campaign last term, was also a notable absentee.

Meanwhile, Matt Ritchie - who played a key role in leading United to the Championship title and will feature prominently this season - was left out as he gradually recovers from the groin operation he had in May, and DeAndre Yedlin did not feature either following his exertions for the USA last month.

Perhaps less surprising was the omission of Emmanuel Riviere, who is deemed surplus to requirements seeing as he is without a goal in two years.

Much has been made of Newcastle’s need to sign players this summer - but offloading the deadwood first would perhaps make recruiting replacements a little easier.

(Image: Newcastle United)

3. Plenty of signings still needed - but Gayle makes his starting case

Tynecastle is a building site. One stand remains barely constructed as Hearts continue to renovate their stadium.

But while the Jam Tarts still have a lot of work to do finishing their ground, Newcastle have just as much to do in terms of building a squad for the Premier League.

Benitez wanted half-a-dozen signings in by the Magpies’ first pre-season match. Instead, he could welcome only Christian Atsu and Florian Lejeune into his squad as ‘new’ signings - and the Ghanaian was already at Newcastle last season anyway.

True this is pre-season and we often see players who have little part to play in the upcoming campaign given a runout, but the sheer volume of deadwood on the United teamsheet was alarming.

Yet while Benitez tried to lure Tammy Abraham to Tyneside earlier in the window, with the United boss determined to sign another striker this summer, Gayle presented his case for a Premier League starting berth quite clearly in Edinburgh.

His first was a classic Gayle strike - played through on goal, he raced clear before slotting home - while his second showed his poaching instinct.

Gayle is desperate to be Newcastle’s first-choice striker in the top flight - and do not rule that out as a possibility just yet, though investment is certainly needed on Premier League class.

(Image: 2017 Newcastle United)

4. A Florian finally passes a physical examination in black and white

The last Florian to feature for Newcastle was certainly not renowned for his physicality. Far from it, in fact.

Luckily, the early signs indicate that Florian Lejeune will not be from the Florian Thauvin mould.

At Tynecastle, the centre-back was introduced as a half-time substitute and impressed during his 45-minute debut.

Cole Stockton was clearly tasked with attempting to bully Lejeune physically, but the new £8.8million acquisition passed the test well - holding off the Hearts forward and even looking comfortable in possession whenever he received it - aside from one nervy backpass.

Lejeune was sporting the No 20 shirt - previously worn by Yoan Gouffran, who has been offered a new deal by the Magpies but appears destined for Turkey - and looked decent, despite his physical test and the rain which came down during the second half.

It may have been a protracted transfer, but hopefully this one pays off in the end.

(Image: The Chronicle)

5. A penny for Rafa’s thoughts

In terms of his side’s actual performance, the Spaniard will have likely been more-than content. Particularly going forward, the Magpies looked excellent at times, albeit against Scottish Premiership opposition.

Defensively the Spaniard will undoubtedly have noted issues to work on - though it was a makeshift back four at times, and this was merely the first pre-season game - but it was still a decent first outing.

It surprisingly took a full 11 minutes for Benitez to get up and stand next to his former assistant Ian Cathro in the technical area. And even then, he appeared in a tracksuit, rather than his normal three-piece suit.

(Image: PA Wire)

When Benitez was at Liverpool and once appeared in a tracksuit rather than a suit, it was deemed to be sending a message to the board that he felt like a coach and not a manager.

Given the frustrating transfer window so far, one couldn’t help but wonder if a similar veiled message was being sent to Mike Ashley.

In reality, the result of this match was immaterial to Benitez and United. What really would be of material benefit is if Newcastle can get this Jacob Murphy deal sorted, and follow it with further additions.

It is off-field matters which are likely at the forefront of Benitez’s mind right now, not on-pitch ones, after all.