Eddie Howe will finally be in the Parkhead dugout, four years after rejecting a move to the Scottish champions
Celtic will play Newcastle United in a glamour pre-season friendly this summer.
The Hoops are finalising plans that will see the English Premier League giants visit Parkhead for the first time since 2004.
Brendan Rodgers’ four-in-a-row heroes have already booked a trip to the SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Ireland to face Cork City on July 8 as part of their preparations for 2025/26.
And iNews reports that the Scottish champions are set to announce a meeting with the Magpies ahead of their Premiership curtain-raiser.
The SPFL will publish next season’s league fixtures on June 20 and Celts know they will kick-off their domestic campaign on the weekend of August 2/3.
However, unlike in recent seasons, Callum McGregor and co. will have to negotiate a two-legged play-off to secure their place in the Champions League.
Newcastle will hope to join Celtic at the top table, with the Carabao Cup winners on course to secure a top-five finish which would clinch automatic qualification.
The Geordies are also planning a summer tour of Asia where they will face North London heavyweights Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
But the Toon Army will travel to Glasgow in their thousands for a warm-up friendly at Celtic Park.
It will be the first time in 21 years that Newcastle have played in Glasgow’s east end. Momo Sylla and Henri Camara cancelled out Craig Bellamy’s opener in August 2004 to fire Martin O’Neill’s men to a 2-1 victory.
Newcastle last visited the city two years ago, beating Rangers 2-1 at Ibrox. Now, four years after turning down Celtic, Eddie Howe will finally be in the Parkhead dugout.
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