Alan Pardew: “It’s always good for players and staff to have new experiences at this time of year.
“It’s important for us to grow our brand.
“We’re a club that wants to compete in the Champions League.
“We’re trying to do it in a way that’s very difficult, because we’re not throwing vast fortunes at transfers.
“We can’t afford to do that.
“We’re trying to do it in an educated way, and trying to bring in players we think can make that step.
“This year we’re probably as well set as we have been since I’ve been at the club.
“We’re certainly going to look at a lot of our younger players towards the end of games, but our senior players are important.
“We just need to get our gameplan, tactically, ready for the season. That will start on this tour.
“I don’t consider these two games warm-up games.”