Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew is determined to lock in their preseason plans early.

United toured the United States in 2011 and the trip was regarded a success in terms of the number of American- based fans who were able to take in the three matches in Kansas, Orlando and Columbus.

But manager Alan Pardew told the Evening Chronicle: "We're looking at various scenarios.

"Obviously we had the disappointment of last summer and South Africa being cancelled."

This time around Pardew is keen to have the schedule bottomed out earlier.

He said: "That is a process I do not want to repeat.

"We really got let down with pre-season last year and we aren't going to put ourselves in that position again."