After playing on trips to China and Port Macquarie, Ugarkovic was excited for Newcastle’s toughest pre-season test yet, which started on Tuesday when the team travelled to Spain for games against Getafe and lower-league clubs Cartagena and Murcia.

“Personally, I can’t wait,” the former Croatian under-19 player said of the tour.

“And I think as a club it’s going to be a massive experience and a positive one, going over there and playing some great teams.

“Getafe are in the La Liga and even the lower-division teams, it’s still great quality because they are playing in Europe. They are playing against teams like Barcelona B, so it’s going to be a great test, physically and mentally, which will be good.

“Everyone knows Spain is pretty technical with their football so it’s going to be a good test on the field. 

“We might be chasing a few shadows every now and then but I think that’s part of the process in football, you like to challenge yourself.”

The Jets won the Super Champions Cup in China, defeating Super League club Shanghai Shenhua 2-0 and Changchun Yatai on penalties. They returned for a 9-0 win over a Mid North Coast select side last week.

Ugarkovic was keen to see Newcastle measure up against European talent.

“We had a good tournament in China against two big sides over there and we performed well and got the results,” he said. “It’s going to be a completely different test for us against completely different opposition, European sides which we haven’t come across, so I think it’s going to be exciting.”