ALEX Gilliead wants to put on a show for Newcastle at Valley Parade tonight.

Rafa Benitez brings his Premier League new boys to City for the most prestige game of pre-season – and Gilliead will be extra keen to impress against his parent club.

Gilliead, on loan for a second time until January, is allowed to play because it is only a friendly.

But he hopes to use the occasion to showcase his skills as much as honing his match fitness for the League One kick-off ten days from now.

Gilliead said: "Everyone wants to play in pre-season. It's key for everyone to get some minutes so you're sharp coming up to the first game.

"But obviously I will be over the moon if I can play. I just want to show everyone what I can do.

"It's a big pitch out there and that's what I like. I'm an up-and-down kind of player who likes getting in behind defenders and running with the ball.

"For that, you need the pitch to be perfect and then keep getting the ball so I can do what I do."

Gilliead began pre-season at Newcastle and underwent the squad fitness-testing on the opening day before heading back to West Yorkshire.

He can sense the quiet optimism within the ranks after the Toon army's immediate return to the top flight after one season in the Championship.

"There's a bit of a buzz going round the club at being back in the Premier League," said the 21-year-old winger.

"They are focusing on staying up first, that's the main aim, but inside the camp I think they may be looking a bit higher.

"They've got a big manager in Rafa Benitez, huge fanbase, big stadium and good squad, so it's looking promising at the moment.

"Newcastle have got that momentum from winning promotion. They won the Championship in the last game and it's a good place to be. They will all be raring to go for the season."

Gilliead gave a lively display against Sunderland on Saturday – his first appearance at Valley Parade since the beginning of March.

He said: "The Peterborough game was the last time I played at the ground. I was on the bench in the play-offs and didn't get on.

"But obviously I'm happy to be back here and happy to be back out there again.

"I've had two 90 minutes in a week at Eccleshill and then on Saturday and I'm happy to come through injury free. I feel fit and strong.

"Having got injured last season, I've been building my fitness up for a while. I hadn't played a full game for a while, so it's good to be back.

"Newcastle will be a good game for us because you need to test yourself against the best.

"But we just need to concentrate on doing the right things on and off the pitch so, come the beginning of the season, we're all ready to go against Blackpool."