Newcastle completed seven warm-up fixtures throughout the summer with Chronicle Live covering each one
Newcastle United stars and coaching staff gather around a tactics board during training at La Manga Club
Newcastle United have endured a more turbulent pre-season than most clubs this summer.
Their highly successful manager Eddie Howe departed his position just three matches into the summer schedule, with Matthias Jaissle taking over with merely two and a half weeks remaining before the Premier League campaign began.
Four of the Magpies’ most important performers – Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier – have departed St James’ Park – and have been replaced by six newcomers, none of whom are older than 24.
Goalkeepers Lukas Hornicek and Ewen Jaouen, midfielders Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba, winger Bazoumana Toure and full-back Amar Dedic all arrived at different points during the summer, while several players’ returns to training were staggered.
Dan Burn, Yoane Wissa, Anthony Elanga, Malick Thiaw and Nick Woltemade were all granted extended breaks following their international involvement at the World Cup, while the likes of Lewis Miley and Joelinton were dealing with injury issues during that period.
All of this contributed to a disjointed pre-season featuring mixed outcomes. A 3-0 victory over Darlington in a closed-door encounter started the summer, followed by a 1-1 stalemate at Gateshead.
A 4-1 thrashing by Bristol City proved to be Howe’s last match in charge, meaning it is the final four fixtures under Jaissle that have provided greater insight ahead of the new campaign.
A week-long training camp in the Spanish sunshine at La Manga concluded with a 2-1 triumph over Valencia at the Mestalla Stadium, though the Magpies were brought back down to reality with a 3-1 loss to Everton at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium.
The summer programme concluded with the VisitMalta Weekender, with a Newcastle squad split across two matches suffering a 2-1 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen and playing out a 1-1 draw with Strasbourg.
Here is what emerged from Newcastle’s summer preparation schedule.
Playing time
Because of the circumstances outlined above, those players who reported back for pre-season duty from the outset were always going to top the minutes chart this summer.
Only two players accumulated over 400 minutes of action during pre-season, with Jacob Ramsey and Sean Steur receiving the most substantial game time throughout the summer.
Both featured among the most impressive performers during the warm-up matches, and they are set to compete with Lewis Miley for the two starting positions in central midfield against Liverpool.
Harvey Barnes’ experience has become increasingly valuable to this squad, and he finished third on the minutes list, though the fact Joe Willock and Jacob Murphy both featured in the top five may raise concerns given both players could depart within the coming weeks after entering the final year of their contracts.
Sven Botman and Lewis Hall also accumulated notable minutes, though Botman’s display, particularly in the matches against Bristol City and Everton, generated more concerns than optimism. Hall’s involvement throughout the summer should mean he is ready to make an immediate impact this season.
Newcastle players’ pre-season minutes:
Jacob Ramsey – 419
Sean Steur – 405
Harvey Barnes – 392
Jacob Murphy – 375
Joe Willock – 371
Sven Botman – 360
Lewis Hall – 351
Leo Shahar – 301
Lukas Hornicek – 270
Anthony Elanga – 248
Miodrag Pivas – 242
Mason Miley – 239
Will Osula – 225
Dylan Charlton – 212
Malick Thiaw – 207
Alex Murphy – 205
Ewen Jaouen – 202
Nick Woltemade – 198
Sean Neave – 188
Aladji Bamba, Bazoumana Toure, Yoane Wissa – 180
Nick Pope – 158
Fabian Schar – 123
Henry Johnson – 108
Rory Finneran – 93
Park Seung-soo – 92
Joelinton – 68
Trevan Sanusi – 58
Anthony Munda and Vakhtang Salia – 53
Dan Burn, Mason Miley, Luke Craggs – 45
Matheos Ferreira – 38
Leading scorers
Barnes finished as Newcastle’s second-highest goalscorer last season with 16 goals, one behind Gordon, and he has signalled his intent this summer with strikes against Bristol City and Everton.
Wissa has appeared sharp and his double against Valencia has sparked optimism that he could demonstrate why Newcastle paid £55million to secure his signature last summer.
Osula also found the net against both Darlington and Strasbourg in what the club anticipates will be a significant season for the Denmark international this term, while Sean Neave scored during what has been an encouraging summer for the young player. A loan move appears likely for a player who has outgrown under-21s football.
Newcastle’s pre-season goal scorers:
Harvey Barnes, Yoane Wissa and Will Osula – 2
Malick Thiaw, Joe Willock, Sean Neave and an own goal – 1
Unexpected contributors and standout performers
Jaissle has not hesitated to utilise some of the club’s under-21 talent this summer, handing starts to the likes of Mason Miley, Leo Shahar, Miodrag Pivas and Dylan Charlton.
Shahar saw the most action out of the quartet, though it was Miley’s display against Bayer Leverkusen that captured attention, and the 17-year-old could be in line for a competitive debut later this month – potentially in the Carabao Cup tie against West Brom next week.
Steur has been the standout among the new arrivals, showing real confidence on the ball, and the 18-year-old could prove to be an exciting addition. Similarly, Toure has been dynamic on the left flank.
Wissa and Elanga have both continued their positive World Cup form, and both could be primed for significantly improved second seasons on Tyneside after struggling during their first campaigns at the club.
Players under scrutiny
There are players who could now be heading for the exit following the conclusion of pre-season. Nick Pope featured in the first three pre-season matches but has been instructed to seek a new club since Jaissle’s appointment.
Willock is anticipated to depart, with Turkish outfit Besiktas eager to sign him, while Newcastle are also willing to consider offers for Murphy.
Neave and Shahar outgrew under-21s football last season and could be set for loan moves in the coming weeks, with opportunities at Newcastle likely to be limited. Alex Murphy and Anthony Munda have already departed on loan arrangements.
Expected lineup against Liverpool
Hornicek looks set to be the first-choice goalkeeper, though Jaouen appears set to push him hard throughout the season. Dedic is expected to go straight into the side at right-back, with Thiaw and Burn forming the most likely central defensive pairing and Hall at left-back.
Elanga and Toure are the frontrunners to start in the wide positions, though the major decisions lie in midfield. Ramsey and Steur have logged the most minutes in the middle of the park, but Lewis Miley could force his way into the lineup for a pivotal season.
In the number 10 position, Woltemade, Willock and Wissa have all been deployed there, and if pre-season performances are anything to go by, Jaissle may consider pairing Wissa with Osula.
Predicted Newcastle lineup versus Liverpool: Hornicek; Dedic, Thiaw, Burn, Hall; L.Miley, Ramsey; Elanga, Wissa, Toure; Osula