Two expert headers from forgotten man Nicky Butt salvaged a draw for Newcastle in the second St. James’ Park pre-season friendly.

Both goals came from James Milner corners late in the game and even the retired Alan Shearer would have been proud of their execution as Butt rose majestically to power home his match saving headers.

Shola Ameobi continued his rich vein of form, equalising an early Moreno Josico goal but strikes from Robert Pires and Gonzalo Rodriguez looked to have given the visitors a comfortable victory.

Butt was introduced as a 67th minute substitute for Emre - one of eight second half replacements - and was immediately spraying passes and putting in timely tackles.

Like last week’s appearance from the bench, he was jeered by sections of the crowd but the goals he nodded into each corner of the Gallowgate net silenced the boo-boys and may just have resurrected his career on Tyneside.

From the first whistle United were second best to last season’s Champions League semi-finalists and it was no surprise when Josico finished off a flowing move with a shot that went through Shay Given.

Ex-Manchester United striker Diego Forlan had earlier struck a post when Titus Bramble blundered in the box leaving Forlan with just Given to beat.

But Newcastle responded with a 22nd minute equaliser when a foul on Damien Duff allowed Nobby Solano to curl a perfect free-kick for Ameobi to head firmly past Sebastian Viera into the Leazes End goal.

Former Arsenal winger Pires restored the Spaniards’ lead when Forlan beat the offside trap to square to Pires in the middle who side-footed through Given’s legs.

United’s shaky centre-half pairing of Bramble and Craig Moore were replaced after the break by Jean-Alain Boumsong and Steven Taylor and Milner came on for Ameobi and immediately put in some effective challenges.

But it was 3-1 to Villarreal in the 62nd minute when Calmache’s corner was headed in by the unmarked Rodriguez - Luque having deserted the defender as the cross came in.

And then came the substitutions that changed the game - Peter Ramage, Charles N’Zogbia and Butt coming on for Celestine Babayaro, Solano and Emre. Matty Pattison and Alan O’Brien had also replaced Luque and Duff before Butt made his mark.

Milner’s 79th minute left wing corner was glanced home by Butt from inside the six yard box and then a minute later a right wing Milner corner was met by an even better header that found the far corner.

Further chances fell our way but an undeserved victory eluded us as the visitors resisted the late pressure.

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Claims were coming from South East London on Saturday that Charlton were poised to add another Newcastle midfielder to a squad that already includes Darren Ambrose.

Former Senegal international Amady Faye is being widely tipped to complete a £1.5m move to The Valley imminently - although Faye was spotted in the stands for the friendly against Villarreal.

Hilariously though, Saturday press reports from the BBC and other sources all listed Faye as still being a Portsmouth player - if only, eh?

Friday’s press call had seen Roeder set the record straight about two current Real Madrid players who we have been linked with.

Dismissing stories of a return for ex-Mag Jonathan Woodgate, Roeder confirmed however that Thomas Gravesen was a player who would interest him were he to become available (which he seems to be, following the arrival of manager Fabio Capello at the Bernabeu).

While our most pressing need isn’t for midfielders, we could certainly make a case for the 30 year-old Danish international being acquired - if we could peddle poor imitations Butt and Faye for some sort of fee - and save on their wages.

PS: An outright denial came from Glenn Roeder on Friday to reports that we are in talks with Empoli striker Francesco Tavarno - with the United boss blaming unscrupulous agents for inventing the story.

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What can I say? I’m a fully-fledged Magpie fan! *woot woot*