Newcastle United in Japan: Eddie Howe's transfer update
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe talks transfers in Tokyo as Dan Burn reveals player 'vote'.
There were a couple of familiar faces back in the Newcastle United fold today.
Bruno Guimaraes and Martin Dubravka trained with their club-mates in 35-degree heat and energy-sapping humidity at the Komazawa Olympic Park General Sports Ground in Tokyo.
Guimarares and Dubravka linked up with the squad after taking short holidays after playing through the summer with Brazil and Slovakia respectively.
The team will take on Urawa Red Diamonds in Saitama tomorrow.
Kieran Trippier and Anthony Gordon, meanwhile, have been given three-week breaks by Howe after going all the way to the Euro 2024 final with England.
What Howe really needs, though, is new faces to strengthen a squad which was stretched to breaking point by injuries, Sandro Tonali’s suspension and European football last season.
Howe has already lost talented young players Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh, sold before last month’s Profit and Sustainability Rules accounting deadline, while Paul Dummett, Matt Ritchie and Loris Karius left the club following the expiry of their contracts.
Lloyd Kelly, Odysseas Vlachodimos and John Ruddy have arrived at the club, while Lewis Hall has joined the club from Chelsea on a permanent deal following a season-long loan at St James’ Park.
However, Howe – who welcomes Tonali back from his 10-month betting ban next month – still needs more players.
Newcastle’s head coach, wearing a baseball cap, spoke to the media after the sweltering session along with Dan Burn, who will captain the team in Japan in the absence of Trippier and the injured Jamaal Lacelles, who has stayed behind on Tyneside.
Howe was asked about the chances of another new signing ahead of the club’s season-opener against Southampton on August 17.
“Yeah, it would be nice,” said Howe, who also insisted that he remained “fully committed” to Newcastle amid speculation linking him with the England job.
“We’re all keen for that. Let’s see what happens. It does sound like I’m repeating myself, but it’s difficult, and we have to be very careful with what we’re doing.”
Thiaw links
Howe was also asked about links with 22-year-old AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw, who faced Newcastle in the Champions League last season.
“I’m always reluctant to comment on these things, but he’s a player I know about, of course I do, from our games in the Champions League against Milan,” said Howe.
“And yeah, he’s a very good player, but that’s it.”
Howe, not surprisingly, fielded most of the questions given the focus on speculation over the England job in the wake of Gareth Southgate’s resignation and potential incoming and outgoing transfers.
Burn, however, was asked about the Japanese supporter club which follows the team intently and drinks Newcastle Brown Ale “almost every day”.
“Wow, I’m really impressed that they drink Brown Ale,” said a smiling Burn. “Not even I drink Brown Ale!
“I think it’s amazing that we have a fanbase over here. It’s something, as a club, we’re looking to expand.”
Chuckling, Howe added: “I’m just worried they’re drinking Brown Ale every day!”
Leadership ‘vote’
On a more serious note, Blyth-born Burn spoke about the changing leadership group role at his boyhood club.
Following Ritchie’s departure, a new face will be “voted” into the senior group.
“We’ve had lads leave, so, at the moment on this tour, it’s only me,” said the 32-year-old defender. “So it’s a bit lonely!
“But it’s between the staff and the players, and I do think it’s important that there are leaders in the group. People lead in different ways, there’s no set way to do it, but with Matty (Ritchie) leaving, we’ll be voting in a new player in the next couple of weeks. There are people ready to step up.
“I think there could be a lot more than five players in this leadership group. I think it's important that you keep it quite tight, though, just so you don't have too many opinions going in.
“But yeah, there's lots of lads that could come in and make that step up.”