NEWCASTLE: Krul, Gosling, Coloccini, S Taylor, R Taylor, Marveaux (Tavernier 46), Tiote (Abeid 46), Ben Arfa, Gutierrez, Ba (Best 72), Lovenkrands (Smith 46).
Attendance: 16,131
We have strength in depth in the goalkeeping department, but God only knows who will wear that number nine shirt that is still on the washing line following the departure of Andy Carroll.
Alan Pardew says none of his squad are worthy - yet we are still no closer to seeing the Geordie boy being replaced.
Sadly the game was dominated by the injury suffered to Hatem Ben Arfa, who was carried off and looks to be set for some time on the sidelines.
Then there was a head injury for Dan Gosling – another player we haven't seen much of since he signed for the club.
Hatem Ben Arfa had produced the game’s real moment of magic when he ventured down the left-hand side, went round the goalkeeper Eric Kronberg and smacked the bottom of the post.
Sylvian Marveaux created another moment of French magic on the opposite flank, with his shot whistling past the post in the other bright spot in the second half.
But United’s only shot on target did not come until the 84th minute, from full-back Danny Simpson – who missed a sitter.
Strikers Peter Lovenkrands, Demba Ba, Leon Best and Shola Ameobi all tried and failed to worry Sporting Kansas City.
Kansas, however, didn't do anything better than Newcastle. The first half was half-decent, but the second half was a typical pre-season dull encounter.
Floods of substitutions and mundane drink breaks watered down a poor match into something that was hardly worth watching.
Newcastle will be hoping for a better performance on Saturday night when they face Orlando City.
And the fans who have made the trip over will be hoping for a bit more excitement.
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