Sean Longstaff at the double as Newcastle cruise to victory against Girona at St James' Park

Newcastle United made light work of La Liga's third-placed team from last season in the first of two friendlies to be played this weekend.

Eddie Howe named a strong starting XI to go up against Girona in the first of three games this weekend as part of the Sela Weekender.

The Magpies raced into a 3-0 lead in the first 15 minutes and should have had a fourth before 20 minutes if Alexander Isak had worn his shooting boots rather than his dancing shoes.

Sean Longstaff opened the scoring on three minutes driving home from inside the area. Ten minutes later Jacob Murphy added to his impressive pre-season goals tally to make it 2-0.

Sean Longstaff silenced his critics with two goals in the first half

Nick Pope was forced into action by Girona but his save set Newcastle away on a counter-attack and that man Anthony Gordon picked up where he left off last season scoring on his return to the side after his summer break.

Moments later Alexander Isak went on a run reminiscent of that run down Everton's wing which led to a Jacob Murphy goal, only to be felled in the box this time. After staying down for a minute and putting the poops up all Newcastle fans, Isak got to his feet to take the penalty.

The Sweden international never really looked like he was going to score as he pretty much fired a pass to the Girona 'keeper. Were this not a meaningless friendly, we might have been a tad annoyed, but by the same token, were it not a friendly, Isak would likely have struck it with more conviction.

It wasn't Alexander Isak's night in front of goal

Newcastle did eventually get their fourth goal before half time when Sean Longstaff popped up in the box again to fire home for his second of the evening.

Eddie Howe brought on Trevan Sanusi at half time in place of Anthony Gordon and the young winger once again looked brilliant. There has been talk that Sanusi will train with the first-team this season and that seems like the perfect reward for his solid pre-season exploits.

The game was completely gone by half time so naturally the second-half was played at a much slower pace, but Girona still never looked threatening. Towards the end of the second half, substitute Ben Parkinson should have made it 5-0 for Newcastle with only the 'keeper to beat the youngster seemed to slip as he hit his shot which went straight into the grateful hands of Paulo Gazzaniga.

About a minute later, Alexander Isak went on another brilliant run finding himself one-on-one with Gazzaniga who managed to get down and smother the ball denying our main striker a goal. Isak left the pitch late on with Travis Hernes replacing him as part of a double substitution which saw Ellis Stanton replace Dan Burn.

The lads are back in action tomorrow with a different starting XI to defend the Sela Cup against Stade Brestois, but not before the women take on AC Milan in the lunch-time kick-off.