JAMES Milner grabbed a late winner against La Liga side Valencia tonight to ensure Newcastle finished their pre-season campaign on a real high at St James's Park.
United donned their new silver third kit and welcomed back Oba Martins to the starting line-up for the encounter with the La Liga big guns.
And despite being linked with a move to Everton, Alan Smith was on the bench for the Magpies.
Mike Ashley took his place in the stands and reassuringly for Toon fans had the name of incoming South American defender Fabricio Coloccini on the back of his purple shirt.
The Deportivo la Coruna star is expected to join Newcastle over the weekend with the deal held up by paperwork yet the Argentinean was in the stands to run the rule over his new team-mates.
Valencia may have arrived two hours later than expected following a problem with their flight but Mestalla boss Unai Emery fielded a star studded side including Spanish internationals David Albelda, Joaquin and Fernando Morientes whole Euro 2008 star David Villa was on the bench.
United started brightly against the Spaniards and Jonas Gutierrez caught the crowd's imagination with some bustling runs forward.
The Argentina star then won a free-kick 25-yards from goal at the Leazes End but James Milner's effort cannoned off the wall on seven minutes.
Milner then won a free-kick on the right hand side of the box which Charles N'Zogbia curled in at pace before Timo Hildebrand gathered comfortably with 10 minutes played.
Martins was then pulled back seconds later to hand yet another early set-piece to United but this time N'Zogbia sent the ball high over the bar with his left foot.
The visitors had to wait until the 27 th minute for their first real sight of goal and after a Cacapa foul it was skipper Ruben Baraja who fired a set-piece straight at Shay Given.
Newcastle responded five minutes later when a weaving run then shot by Damien Duff forced Hildebrand into a diving save before Valencia cleared the danger.
With 10 minutes remaining of the first half Gutierrez released N'Zogbia down the left before his powerful effort flashed across the face of goal with Valencia rocking.
But on the counter attack Valencia opened the scores at Gallowgate.
Former Real Betis star Joaquin muscled in between Taylor and Cacapa and latched on to David Silva's ball before applying a neat finish on 38 minutes and make it 1-0 to Valencia.
That's how it stayed until half-time but United started the second half brightly, however, they were unable to build up any momentum due to a flurry of changes from Valencia.
And it was one of those subs in the dangerous form of Villa who almost made it 2-0 when he latched on to a quick free-kick before rippling the side netting.
There was warm applause just after the hour mark when Martins left the field for Alan Smith.
Villa came close on 71 minutes when he escaped down the left before attempting a delicate chip over Given but the ball bounced wide.
With 13 minutes to go though United's persistence paid off when they forced a corner on the right hand side.
Guthrie delivered and Duff rose highest to head home his fourth of the pre-season campaign to make it 1-1.
On 80 minutes N'Zogbia rolled the ball to Butt yet his powerful effort was sliced wide.
And United snatched glory in the final minute.
Gutierrez right wing cross was headed against the post by Taylor before Milner lashed in the rebound to make it 2-1 in the dying stages.
UNITED: Given, Beye (Bassong 85) N'Zogbia, Cacapa (Edgar 85), Taylor, Milner, Guthrie, Gutierrez, Butt, Duff, Martins (Smith 63).
VALENCIA: Hildebrand, Albiol (Fernandes 59), Abelda (Edu 74), Baraja (Ruano 59)
, Morientes (Villa 46), Panadero (Manuel 74), Helguera (Navarro 67), Joaquin (Dominguez 46), Silva (Miguel 46), Garcia, Moretti.
Crowd: 31,494
Ref: Uriah Rennie (Sheffield)
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