Hearts head coach Ian Cathro to face former club Newcastle United in a glamour pre-season clash

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Hearts head coach Ian Cathro will go up against former club Newcastle United after the Tynecastle side announced a glamour pre-season friendly with the English Premier League newcomers.

The Gorgie outfit will play host to Rafa Benitez’s side on Friday July 14, with all proceeds from the game going towards the £12 million cost of the club’s new main stand.

Cathro initially joined the St James’ Park side under then manager Steve McClaren and remained part of Benitez’s backroom team before taking on the reins at Hearts last December.

Next month’s match will also see Hearts defender Aaron Hughes face his old employers, having played 248 games in eight years in the north-east.

With the new main stand not expected to be ready until September, only three stands will be operational for the match.

Hearts get their competitive season underway four days later with a trip to Elgin City in a Betfred Cup clash.