Carlisle United's rising stars will face Newcastle United in pre-season.

The Magpies feature on the pre-season calendar facing the Blues' Under-18 side.

The United youth team, now managed by Mark Birch, will head to the north east for the game on Tuesday, August 3.

It forms part of a seven-game list of friendlies confirmed by the Cumbrians.

The Under-18s, featuring the likes of Sam Fishburn and Gabriel Breeze, are due to start their pre-season programme with games at Carlisle-based Northbank on Saturday, July 3 and a behind-closed-doors home fixture with Gretna on July 7.

Birch's team then head to Sunderland on July 10, with subsequent games at Carlisle City (July 14), Blackburn (July 23), Middlesbrough (July 31) and Newcastle before the young Blues' first league game on August 7.

Games against Newcastle, Sunderland, Boro and Blackburn mean United will face four Category One academies in a challenging pre-season schedule.

Carlisle say the respective host clubs "will advise in due course" on whether fans can attend the games.

Birch has stepped up to become lead professional development coach in United's academy, with former academy manager Eric Kinder switching to a part-time caching role alongside Birch.

Simon Friel has been appointed Carlisle's new academy boss.