Duff has struggled with injuries since joining Newcastle in 2006
A hat-trick from Damien Duff and a goal from debutant Danny Guthrie clinched a 4-1 win for Newcastle at Hartlepool.
The Magpies went a goal behind through an early Matty Robson strike before Duff changed the course of the friendly by curling in an equaliser.
Duff slotted home his second when set up by Guthrie after the break and a deft finish late on sealed his treble.
In between, substitute Guthrie scored only eight minutes into his Newcastle career with a deflected effort.
Magpies boss Kevin Keegan named a strong squad for the trip to Victoria Park but was without England striker Michael Owen, who was nursing a minor injury.
The home side dominated early proceedings and took the lead after 16 minutes when winger Matty Robson lashed in a left-foot shot after evading the Newcastle defence.
Hartlepool still pressed for a second and Gary Liddle's shot from distance was deflected just wide.
With half-time approaching, Newcastle grabbed an equaliser following a counter-attack that resulted in James Milner laying the ball into Duff's pass and the winger curled it around goalkeeper Arran Lee-Barrett.
Keegan then introduced Danny Guthrie as a half-time substitute and the young midfielder, recently signed from Liverpool, did not take long to make an impact on his new team.
Only seven minutes into the second half, Guthrie played a pinpoint pass into the path of Duff, who slotted in his second of the game
A minute later Guthrie scored himself, with his low drive taking a slight deflection and nestling into the bottom corner of the Hartlepool goal.
Newcastle continued to have chances - Shola Ameobi, Alan Smith and Duff all coming close before the latter sealed his hat-trick in the closing stages with a delightfully curled shot past Lee-Barrett.
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