It sounds like Eddie Howe is optimistic about the upcoming friendlies in Japan, seeing them as a great opportunity for his Newcastle United squad to gain valuable match fitness and experience. With key players potentially making their summer debuts, these games will be crucial for integrating them back into the team and assessing their form before the new season kicks off. How do you think these matches will impact Newcastle’s preparations for the season ahead?
It sounds like Newcastle United’s pre-season is in full swing, with some interesting developments and challenges ahead. The victory over Hull City, with goals from Alexander Isak and Jacob Murphy, is a positive sign, and having the majority of the squad back together for the Japan trip should be beneficial.
It’s good news that Sean Longstaff, Joe Willock, and Lloyd Kelly are getting additional training time to build up their fitness. Their return will certainly bolster the squad. Miguel Almiron and Fabian Schar’s presence in Japan will also be a boost, given their importance to the team.
The situation with Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier adds a bit of intrigue. Gordon will be a welcome addition once he returns, but Trippier’s future remains uncertain. His potential move to Saudi Arabia could be a significant shift, especially given his key role in the squad. The fact that he’s been seen with Al-Ettifaq’s scout might suggest ongoing negotiations or interest from the Saudi league, which could be a major story if it develops further.
How do you think Newcastle should approach these upcoming friendlies in Japan with these factors in mind?
It looks like Eddie Howe is focusing on using the friendlies in Japan as key preparation tools for Newcastle’s upcoming season. With matches against Urawa Red Diamonds and Yokohama F. Marinos on the horizon, the emphasis will be on performance rather than intensive training.
The return of international players and a more complete squad will provide valuable insights into how the team is shaping up. These matches will be crucial for building chemistry and integrating the returning players.
Callum Wilson’s absence due to his recent back procedure is a setback, but it’s good to hear that the issue was addressed with the injection. His recovery will be closely monitored, and while he might miss the start of the season, it sounds like the impact on Newcastle’s early fixtures may be manageable, given the limited number of games in the initial weeks.
Howe will likely need to rely on other strikers in Wilson’s absence, so it will be interesting to see who steps up in these friendlies and how they perform. The pre-season games will also be a chance to evaluate how well the team adapts without Wilson and to refine tactics ahead of the competitive matches.
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