OLDHAM ATH 2 NEWCASTLE UTD 1
Siem de Jong's Toon career got off to a good start, scoring after only 14 minutes, but it was not enough to keep Newcastle United from slipping to a 2-1 defeat at Oldham Athletic in this pre-season fixture.
Second-half goals from Timothee Dieng and William Gros saw Oldham come from behind to ensure that Newcastle's pre-season preparations got under way in disappointing fashion.
New signings Jack Colback, Ayoze Perez and De Jong all featured.
Former Ajax skipper De Jong struck a free-kick into the Oldham wall, but the Netherlands international pounced on the rebound to lash home an effort from outside the area.
De Jong almost had a second when he came close to connecting with Rolando Aarons' delivery.
Perez was one of a host of substitutes introduced early in the second half, shortly before the hosts levelled.
Dieng headed home a David Mellor corner past Jak Alnwick.
Substitute Gros then got in on the act as his shot from the edge of the area slipped through Alnwick's grasp with 12 minutes remaining to hand the League One side victory.
Newcastle United starting XI: Alnwick; Anita, S.Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Dummett; Gouffran, Abeid, Colback, Aarons; de Jong (c); Armstrong.
Subs: Woodman, Haïdara, Streete, Satka, Bigirimana, Sa.Ameobi, Vuckic, Perez.