Straight after Friday’s 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest, the Newcastle United squad caught a flight from East Midlands airport to Dubai ahead of a mid-season training camp in the Middle East.
Eddie Howe has confirmed that we’ll spend “five or six days” at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex, giving the players a “little bit of rest” before we “get back to training” in preparation for next Sunday’s crucial clash with Man Utd.
Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton have been granted a short period of leave – both are enjoying holidays with loved ones – and will link up with the team soon, however Nick Pope and Miguel Almiron have remained on Tyneside to receive treatment. Pope was forced to withdraw from the England squad with a knock, while Almiron will miss ‘six weeks’ with a thigh injury.
Elsewhere, the likes of Sven Botman, Alexander Isak, Kieran Trippier, Jamal Lewis and Martin Dubravka will all repsresent their countries over the international break, but Anthony Gordon, Emil Krafth, Loris Karius and Harrison Ashby have travelled to Dubai after being spotted at the City Ground just hours before our flight.
The “world class” complex features a fully-equipped gym, swimming pool, plunge pool, steam room, sauna and 25-man dressing room, along with altitude chambers, cryo chambers, climate chambers and a state of the art performance lab. It will, however, be a behind-close-doors camp, with no photographers or media travelling to Dubai on this occasion.
Speaking about our latest warm-weather camp in the Middle East, Howe said:
“Immediately it’ll be a little bit of rest after an intense period of games, then we’ll get back to training and preparation for Manchester United.
“I think we’re away for about five or six days. We’ll be training and making sure we’re fit and focused for the last part of the season.”
