The Newcastle United squad arrived in Saudi Arabia last night, settling into the team hotel in Riyadh ahead of a mid-season training camp in the Middle East.
We have six away at the World Cup in Bruno Guimaraes, Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson, Nick Pope, Fabian Schar and Garang Kuol, but one player absent from the squad photo and footage released by the club’s media team is Dan Burn.
Thankfully, the big man is thought to be OK and should join up with the squad in the next 24 hours after a period of illness.
Here’s the 27 players – including five U21 talents (*) – who have made the trip to Saudi:
- Goalkeepers: Karl Darlow, Loris Karius, Mark Gillespie.
- Defenders: Jamaal Lascelles, Sven Botman, Alex Murphy*, Paul Dummett, Emil Krafth, Javier Manquillo, Jamal Lewis, Matt Targett.
- Midfielders: Sean Longstaff, Joe Willock, Jonjo Shelvey, Joelinton, Elliot Anderson, Joe White*, Jay Turner-Cooke*, Lewis Miley*.
- Wingers: Allan Saint-Maximin, Miguel Almiron, Jacob Murphy, Ryan Fraser, Matt Ritchie.
- Strikers: Alexander Isak, Chris Wood, Dylan Stephenson*.
A huge chance for the16-year-old Lewis Miley to show what he can do, with his call-up suggesting Howe is keen to take a closer look at the England U17 international.
Hopefully the likes of Allan Saint-Maximin and Alexander Isak can benefit from what will feel like a mini pre-season out in Saudi Arabia. It’s good to also see Emil Krafth back with the group following an ACL injury, although it remains to be seen how much the Swede will be able to do.
