With Newcastle’s first game of pre-season kicking off at Gateshead today (12.30pm), it’s time to look at those who look set to feature against the Heed Army.
As so many of our international stars only returned to first-team training yesterday – Botman, Schar, Bruno, Joelinton, Tonali, Gordon, Isak and Wilson – there could be a smaller pool of players available to start this one, with wholesale changes at half-time also likely to give game time to everyone from first-team regulars to U21 talents.
Here’s what we expect to feature in each position:
GOALKEEPERS: Loris Karius, Mark Gillespie (Nick Pope isn’t fit yet, Martin Dubravka hasn’t been pictured in training and Karl Darlow is in talks to leave).
CENTRE-BACKS: Jamaal Lascelles, Dan Burn, Kell Watts, Remi Savage (I’d be surprised if Botman or Schar featured after returning just yesterday. Watts and Savage have trained with the first-team).
RIGHT-BACKS: Kieran Trippier, Harrison Ashby, Javier Manquillo (Emil Krafth is unlikely to feature over pre-season as he recovers from an ACL).
LEFT-BACKS: Matt Targett, Jamal Lewis (The latter is likely to leave, but has trained with the group over the past week, unlike the likes of Fraser, Hayden or Hendrick).
MIDFIELDERS: Sean Longstaff, Elliot Anderson, Lewis Miley, Lucas De Bolle (Willock isn’t 100% fit yet after last season’s hamstring injury. Bruno, Joelinton and Tonali have only just returned. De Bolle has trained with the first-team).
WINGERS: Allan Saint-Maximin, Jacob Murphy, Matt Ritchie (Almiron may feature but he was another given extended leave after playing for Paraguay over the summer).
FORWARDS: With Isak and Wilson unlikely to feature, we may draft in someone from the U21 side to play up top, or play a winger like ASM or Murphy out of position.
U21 talents like Joe White, Amadou Diallo, Jay Turner-Cooke, Alex Murphy and Dylan Stephenson could also feature if none of our international stars make the squad.
