Hughton led Newcastle to the Championship title last season

Newcastle United boss Chris Hughton says the side need to make the most of their final two friendly matches to improve their match fitness.

Deportivo and Rangers offer Hughton's side a chance to boost their sharpness ahead of the Premier League opener at Manchester United on 16 August.

"What we've got to do over the last two games is proportion the team as best we can," Hughton told BBC Newcastle.

"It's all about getting the players the minutes on the pitch they need."

Hughton's comments followed a spirited fightback from the Magpies on Saturday in a friendly game against PSV Eindhoven, which saw them come back from 2-0 down at half-time to draw 2-2.

Ryan Taylor slammed in from close range in the 51st minute before Leon Best headed in to draw the sides level, after Ola Toivonen and Balazs Dzsudzsak had netted for the visitors.

Meanwhile the Magpies travel to Spanish side Deportivo la Coruna at the Riazor Stadium in Galicia on Tuesday, 3 August, with the trip to Ibrox to meet Rangers on Saturday, 7 August.

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