A round up of all of today’s NUFC related news and gossip:
- Rafa Benitez made his return to NUFC duties today after missing training sessions and the 1-0 win at Swansea last week. He returned to the North-East yesterday, but was back at the Benton base this morning. Welcome back Rafa!
- In-form defender Jamaal Lascelles is on Gareth Southgate’s radar for a potential England call-up, having earned ‘positive reports’ during recent wins over West Ham and Swansea (The Chronicle).
- According to The Sun, Tottenham flop Vincent Janssen turned down a deadline day offer to join Newcastle on loan, opting instead to join Turkish giants Fenerbahce.
- Defensive duo Jamaal Lascelles and Jesus Gamez have been named in the WhoScored.com Premier League Team of the Week, with ratings of 8.8 and 7.5 respectively in the 1-0 win at Swansea on Sunday.
- Ayoze Perez has revealed that Rafa Benitez gave a pre-match team talk all the way from his home on Merseyside before Sunday’s game at Swansea.
- A strong Newcastle U-23 side, including Jonjo Shelvey, Rolando Aarons and Freddie Woodman, surrendered a 2-0 lead at St. James’ Park last night, going on to draw the match 2-2. Shelvey played the full 90 and assisted Luke Charman’s opener.