Matthias Jaissle's first home friendly ended in a 2-1 defeat by Bayer Leverkusen at St James' Park.

But there was a reason the Newcastle United head coach saluted the efforts of 17-year-old Mason Miley in the dressing room post-match after Lewis' younger brother came off with cramp on his first start for the club.

"This is the attitude we need," he said. "Really suffering until the tank is empty."

Newcastle are going to have to show such grit this season, regardless of who else comes in.

The club are progressing with a move for Benfica right-back Amar Dedic and it is worth noting Dan Burn, Tino Livramento, Bazoumana Toure and William Osula did not feature on Saturday.

However, as was evident in the defeat by Everton midweek, further additions are needed before the transfer window shuts on 1 September as Jaissle looks to add some experience to his squad.

"It's important that there will be something done in the transfer market," he said. "I think everyone is aligned on that."

It has already been a window of change on Tyneside.

On the previous occasion Newcastle United played at St James' Park, in May, former head coach Eddie Howe was in the dugout and Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon were all on the team sheet.

A lot has drastically altered since then.

Defender Dan Burn, who Jaissle has appointed captain, even felt he was joining a new club when he returned from holiday earlier this week.

"Change is healthy sometimes," the centre-back wrote in his programme notes. "It's going to take a little bit of time.

"We're in a little bit of transition and it's an exciting time to be a part of. There's a big responsibility on the senior players who are left to keep driving the standards."

Jaissle has also repeatedly used the word 'transition' after the club sold Guimaraes, Tonali and Gordon this summer and signed four outfield players aged 20 and under from the continent.

The only exception to the rule has been goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek, who is not exactly a veteran at 24.

Hornicek's first act on Saturday was to pick the ball out of the net.

There were just 44 seconds on the clock when Ibrahim Maza fired Bayer Leverkusen in front with a curling effort from outside the box, leaving Jaissle slapping his hands on the touchline in frustration.

By the time the hydration break rolled around midway through the first half, to loud boos, Newcastle made the decision to change kits after their black and white home shirt with blue trim clashed with Bayer Leverkusen's mint away kit with a blue pattern.

Following a switch of attire, and some instructions on Jaissle's tactics board, the hosts started to pick each other out in their lilaic third strip.

Elanga certainly did for Newcastle's equaliser after the forward's in-swinging corner found Malick Thiaw, who rose highest at the back post to power a header past goalkeeper Mark Flekken.

However, blunt Newcastle never looked quite like scoring another and Bayer Leverkusen restored their lead in the second half when Victor Boniface skipped away from Sean Steur inside the box and fired the ball into the bottom corner.

Jaissle, though, insisted he was "not concerned" - knowing his side have just one more friendly to go, against Strasbourg on Sunday - before they face Liverpool at St James' Park in their Premier League opener.

"I was so happy to see the atmosphere right now so I can't even imagine what it will look like against Liverpool when the stadium is full and we get the whole support," he added.

"That will be the message. We need to stick together. With these challenges now, this transitional moment, we need the fans together with the players and the staff."