With the 2022 World Cup break approaching, Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe will be preparing for the Magpies’ winter training camp.
While many of their rivals will see a host of players head off to the major tournament in Qatar, Howe can make the most of having the majority of his squad at his disposal.
Magpies Have An Advantage
While the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham will be sending a host of international stars off to Qatar, Howe is set to lose relatively few players to the tournament. While there will be plenty of focus on the World Cup, with sites like https://www.thepunterspage.com/world-cup-betting/ providing in-depth analysis on the competition, Howe will be focused on getting the most out of his warm-weather training camp in Saudi Arabia. The Magpies boss has described the trip as a “mini pre-season” and will be looking to get some essential training work done.
While the likes of goalkeeper Nick Pope and defender Kieran Trippier will be heading off with England to the World Cup, Howe is in the fortunate position of having most of his squad at his disposal for the training camp. Pep Guardiola at Manchester City will not have the same luxury, with around a dozen of his players expected to make their national sides for the World Cup. The fact Newcastle will be able to keep most of their players at the club in November and December shows how shrewdly the club has worked in the transfer window, while also highlighting how well the team as a whole has been punching above its weight this season, as per https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football.
Newcastle Eager To Build On Bright Start
With 27 points from their first 14 games of the season, it has been a strong start to the Premier League campaign for Newcastle, https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63443730 reports. The Magpies were languishing at the bottom end of the table 12 months ago but the club and the side have come on leaps and bounds since last season. With just 11 goals conceded in the first 14 games of the league campaign, Howe has seen his side become far more resilient at the back. Meanwhile, with 28 goals in that time, only Arsenal and City had scored more.
Being able to work on tactics, while also getting away from the notorious winter weather in the north of England for a spell will be valuable to Howe as his side builds towards the busy festive period. Howe has refused to get carried away by the team’s start to the season and knows there is a long way to go before Newcastle achieves its short-term goals.
Having the majority of the squad available for the warm-weather camp might well prove to be an advantage for Newcastle in what is an unprecedented event of a World Cup midseason. With the Premier League being so competitive, every slight advantage counts.