Callum McGregor: Starred in Celtic's win over Sunderland
Callum McGregor: Starred in Celtic's win over Sunderland

Pre-season friendlies: Saturday review, including a win for Celtic and defeat for Newcastle


A round-up of the rest of Saturday's pre-season action, including a 5-0 win for Celtic at Sunderland.

Callum McGregor was the star man in a much-changed Celtic side who trounced Sunderland 5-0 in their Dafabet Cup clash at the Stadium of Light.

The midfielder returned to the Hoops line-up and notched twice in the opening 15 minutes before stand-in Hoops keeper Dorus de Vries saved a penalty kick from James Vaughan and then the rebound. 

In the 39th minute Parkhead winger Jonny Hayes made it 3-0 when Sunderland keeper Jason Steele failed to hold an Olivier Ntcham shot.

McGregor scored his hat-trick from the spot in the 58th minute after Anthony Ralston had been fouled by former Celt Aiden McGeady.

The Scottish champions were in fine form and in the 70th minute midfielder Stuart Armstrong made it 5-0 when he took a Nir Bitton pass and fired in from the edge of the box.

The result boosts Celtic's confidence ahead of Wednesday's Champions League qualifier against Rosenborg in Norway. The sides drew 0-0 in the first leg.

It was also a bad day for Newcastle, who suffered their first defeat of pre-season, losing 2-1 in Germany to Mainz.

Jesus Gamez had cancelled out Levin Oztunali's opener but former Middlesbrough striker Viktor Fischer bagged a winner for the hosts five minutes from time.

Record signing Marko Arnautovic scored his first West Ham goal in a 2-2 draw with Werder Bremen.

Austria forward Arnautovic, who signed from Stoke in a £20million deal which could rise by a further £5m, turned in Arthur Masuaku's deflected cross for a 25th-minute equaliser.

Luca Caldirola had given Bremen a 15th-minute lead in Lohne, with England goalkeeper Joe Hart unable to stop the close-range header on his Hammers debut.

Young Spanish striker Toni Martinez put West Ham ahead after 75 minutes when he headed home Andre Ayew's cross.

But Zhang Yuning, the China striker on loan from West Brom, struck nine minutes from time to hand Bremen the Betway Cup 3-2 on aggregate.

Bremen had won Friday's first leg in Schneverdingen 1-0.

With Everton target Gylfi Sigurdsson left out, Swansea won 2-0 at Birmingham thanks to second-half goals from Tammy Abraham and Leroy Fer.

Following the game, Swans boss Paul Clement promised a quick resolution to the Sigurdsson transfer saga.

West Brom suffered a 2-1 defeat at Bristol Rovers, Craig Dawson scoring what proved to be just a late consolation.

Leicester were also beaten by opponents from lower down the league system, losing 1-0 at Championship side Wolves, for whom Ivan Cavaleiro scored the only goal of the game, but Stoke had no such problems at Bolton, winning 2-0 thanks to two goals from  Joselu.

Bournemouth were 1-0 winners at QPR in the Stan Bowles benefit match, Jordan Ibe scoring the only goal.

Brighton new-boy Pascal Gross scored in the Seagulls' 1-1 draw at Norwich, while Burnley also drew 1-1 - away to Nottingham Forest. Another player linked with a move to Everton, Andre Gray, scored for the Clarets, equalising  Daryl Murphy's goal.

Southampton impressed with a 3-0 win in France against Saint-Etienne.

Manolo Gabbiadni and James Ward-Prowse scored in quick succession in the second half before Maya Yoshida put the icing on the cake late on.

Crystal Palace were also in France on Saturday and they drew 1-1 away to  Metz, who netted a late equaliser after Wilfried Zaha had put Frank de Boer's men in front.

And Watford drew 0-0 at Aston Villa and had keeper Heurelho Gomes to thank for that - he kept out Henri Lansbury’s penalty to save the Premier League from defeat to Championship opposition.

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