Cheick Tiote is looking forward to returning to Newcastle United for preseason.

Alan Pardew's players will begin reporting back to the Club's Benton training ground in three groups for testing from Wednesday, 3rd July ahead of the first pre-season friendly, away to Scottish Premier League runners-up Motherwell just under a fortnight later.

"Last season was not the best for Newcastle," he told nufc.co.uk. "It was a hard season in the Europa League and the Premier League but we've had some time off to rest now.

"It was really difficult for all the team but when you see the season, the most important thing was just to stay in the Premier League.

"That's what we did and now we need to prepare and be ready for the next season.

"When we look at last season, we cannot imagine to have the same season as this next year so I think it will be better."