Newcastle United first team squad availability – Where we are now with 4 weeks until new season | OneFootball

The last couple of days have given us some insight into where we currently are with the Newcastle United first team squad.

That is, in terms of where the various players are in their pre-season preparations.

Eddie Howe have an injury update on Friday, explaining why a number of of the Newcastle United first team squad hadn’t been involved with the main group training.

Then on Saturday we had a behind-closed-doors friendly, which ended Newcastle 3 SpVgg Unterhaching 1, United having a kick about against the German third tier side, Eddie Howe playing a different eleven in the second-half.

This behind closed doors Newcastle United friendly at the Adidas headquarters in Germany, coincided with the final day of their stay, before traveling back to Tyneside.

Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak scoring the goals in the first-half, then pretty much a Newcastle United under 21s/reserve side playing after the break, a penalty seeing the German team get a consolation goal.

So, with now 27 days until the season kicks off, where are we at with the Newcastle United first team squad?

These were the two different elevens that played in Saturday’s friendly:

Newcastle United (first half): Nick Pope, Jamal Lewis, Emil Krafth, Dan Burn (c), Lewis Hall, Jacob Murphy, Joelinton, Sean Longstaff, Joe White, Harvey Barnes, Alexander Isak

Newcastle United (second half): Odysseas Vlachodimos, Jamie Miley, Cathal Heffernan, Ellis Stanton, Leo Shahar, Johnny Emmerson, Jay Turner-Cooke, Alfie Harrison, Trevan Sanusi, Garang Kuol, Ben Parkinson

This was the official Newcastle United injury update that Eddie Howe gave on Friday, when quizzed by the media after six players in the traveling party were missing from the full group training session:

Tino Livarmento – Still working his way back to full fitness before he will join full group training, after an ankle injury towards the end of last season.

Callum Wilson – Eddie Howe explaining ‘Callum Wilson has gone to see a back specialist just to have a little procedure on his back, it is just something that he has been feeling a little bit, so we are just getting it checked out.’ When asked whether the striker would still be available for the start of the season, the Head Coach replying ‘Let’s see.’

Matt Targett – Still working his way back to full fitness before he will join full group training, as an Achilles injury saw him miss most of last season.

Joe Willock – Working his way back to full fitness before he will join full group training, as he recovers from an Achilles injury picked up last season.

Lewis Miley – Eddie Howe explaining ‘Lewis Miley got injured, not with us, but while doing some off-season work.’ At the start of July it was revealed that the 18-year-old had suffered a broken metatarsal when turning innocuously during a running drill.

Lloyd Kelly – Eddie Howe saying ‘Lloyd Kelly we are just being protective over but he’s fit and fine.’

When it comes to the Newcastle United first team squad as things stand, this appears to be where we are at:

Available:

Mark Gillespie, John Ruddy, Lloyd Kelly, Nick Pope, Emil Krafth, Dan Burn, Lewis Hall, Jacob Murphy, Joelinton, Sean Longstaff, Harvey Barnes, Alexander Isak

Newcastle United (second half): Odysseas Vlachodimos,

Injured/recovering from injury:

Jamaal Lascelles, Sven Botman, Tino Livramento, Joe Willock, Callum Wilson, Matt Targett, Lewis Miley

Suspension:

Sandro Tonali will be available for Newcastle United in the Premier League, as from the start of September match against Spurs. Not sure about his position with pre-season friendlies, whether his suspension does/doesn’t allow him to be involved in them.

Not back from summer break yet, due to international involvement:

Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon, Marton Dubravka, Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Miguel Almiron

The rest:

Could Jamal Lewis end up staying at least the first half of this upcoming season as a squad player. Interesting that he was on this trip to Germany, unlike Ryan Fraser and Isaac Hayden, who are expected to leave for sure this summer, even if only on loan in Hayden’s case?

Joe White was involved in the Newcastle United first team squad in the second half of last season, with all the missing players. However, I assume he will be squeezed out of the 25 man NUFC senior Premier League squad this coming season, unless Eddie Howe really hit hard again at start of season.

Harrison Ashby was one of those missing from Saturday’s friendly, no news as to why.

Miodrag Pivas was announced as Newcastle United’s latest signing on Saturday, however, having just turned 19 and playing his first full season in 2023/24 helping his second tier Serbian club get promoted, it will be at the very least months of settling in before he will be considered I would have thought. Maybe even initially starting off as part of the Under 21s set-up.

It is a friendly on Saturday at Hull but I think we will have a much better idea of how the Newcastle United first team squad is shaping up, when we see who is on the plane for Japan (all the internationals assumed to be back by that point) and then which players are able to take part in the two friendlies over there.

The squad then traveling back to the UK and the final piece of pre-season is the usual double header at St James’ Park, Girona FC on the Friday night and then the following day, exactly a week before the Southampton match, the final friendly against Stade Brestois.

Newcastle United schedule to end of September 2024:

Saturday 20 July 2024 – NUFC first-team squad travel back to Tyneside from Germany.

Saturday 27 July 2024 – Hull City v Newcastle United friendly, 2pm kick-off.

Wednesday 31 July 2024 – Urawa Red Diamonds v Newcastle United friendly in Japan, playing at the 62,000 capacity Saitama Stadium, the largest football-specific stadium in Japan.

Saturday 3 August 2024 – Yokohama F Marinos v Newcastle United friendly at the National Stadium in Toyko.

Friday 9 August 2024 – Newcastle United v Girona FC friendly 7.30pm kick-off (SJP Sela weekend)

Saturday 10 August 2024 – Newcastle United v Stade Brestois 4pm kick-off (SJP Sela weekend)

Wednesday 14 August 2024 – The Carabao Cup second round draw will be made around 10pm.

Saturday 17 August 2024 – Newcastle v Southampton (3pm)

Sunday 25 August 2024 – Bournemouth v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports

Week commencing Monday 26 August 2024 – Carabao Cup round two matches will be played

Friday 30 August 2024 – Summer transfer window closes at 11pm.

Sunday 1 September 2024 – Newcastle v Tottenham (1.30pm) Sky Sports

(The first international break of the season)

Sunday 15 September 2024 – Wolves v Newcastle (4.30 pm) Sky Sports

Weeks commencing Monday 16 September AND Monday 23 September – Carabao Cup round three (This round split over two midweeks)

Saturday 21 September 2024 – Fulham v Newcastle (3 pm)

Weeks commencing Monday 16 September AND Monday 23 September – Carabao Cup round three (This round split over two midweeks)