Soccer Sevens:
Champions again! 

Newcastle U23s retained the Soccer Sevens Tournament title in Hong Kong's Happy Valley on Sunday, defeating Glasgow Rangers in extra time once again.

Match footage is online here

Trailing 0-2 at half time, the Magpies fought back to lead 3-2 with 90 seconds of normal time remaining before their opponents levelled.

That took the Final into four minutes of sudden death extra time, both sides then forfeiting a player.

A memorable finish from captain Owen Bailey - who had gone in goal for the extra time - gave United a 4-3 victory and silverware for the third time, following successes in both 2012 and 2018.

Topping their group on Saturday to qualify for the knockout phase on Sunday, United beat Portuguese side Portimonense 2-0 in the Quarter Final.

That set up a semi-final tie against local side Kitchee and after the most unadventurous of first halves, United took control and won it with relative ease thanks to a brace from Elias Sorensen. 

That set up a rematch with Rangers in the final - last year's meeting going our way thanks to a 1-0 success in extra time. 

Ben Dawson's conceded their first goal of the tournament within the opening minute through Andrew Dallas and he repeated the feat shortly afterwards.

At half time United trailed 0-2 but Owen Bailey halved the deficit within three minutes, heading home a corner. 

And within seconds Luke Charman shot against the post and saw the rebound end up in the net off the back of the Gers 'keeper for an own goal.

With three minutes of normal time left the black and whites took the lead, Elias Sorensen netting from the penalty spot after Rosaire Longelo was barged over inside the area.

Back came Rangers though and they levelled when Josh McPake shot home via a post with 90 seconds remaining to force extra time.

Then came Bailey's memorable winner, slotting home just inside the box to the delight of the North East sympathisers in attendance.

Saturday:  

G1: Kerry Yau Yee League Select won 1-0 
Watts footage here

G2: Kashima Antlers won 1-0 
Sorensen footage here

G3: Brighton & Hove Albion drew 0-0
No scorer

Sunday:

QF: Portimonense won 2-0 
Sorensen(pen), Allan footage here

SF: Kitchee won 2-0 
Sorensen 2 footage here

F: Rangers won 4-3 
Bailey 2, Sorensen, OG footage here

Squad: Harker, Bailey, Watts, Cass, M. Longstaff, Longelo, Sorensen, Allan, Walters, Charman. 

PS: It was a double celebration on Sunday, with a Wallsend Boys Club side including old boys Steve Harper, Keith Gillespie and John Watson winning the Masters Section of the tournament.

Our sponsors CentrAle on Newcastle central station continue to source beery delights from across the region, around the UK and far further afield. 

Our current favourites are the music-themed range of bottles from Musa Brewery in Portugal. Remember, train beers are not just for the football season.....

Latest:
Still talking

Chronicle, Saturday:

Rafa Benitez is now understood to be back at his home in the Wirral after contract discussions with Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley - but talks remain ongoing between the two parties.

Ashley and Charnley held face to face meetings in London with Benitez to discuss the level of their ambition but the ex-Liverpool boss returned to his home yesterday and contact since then has been over the phone.

Negotiations between the trio began at an undisclosed venue in London on Thursday - it's disputed whether the various parties reconvened for further discussions on Friday and it's also unclear whether others were present ie SD cohorts Keith Bishop and Justin Barnes.

2018/19:
Cup action @ SJP 

If you're at a loose end on Thursday of this week (23rd) then SJP is hosting the Northumberland FA Minor Cup Final.

Northern Alliance sides Cullercoats and Blyth Town will be competing for silverware at Gallowgate thanks to the intervention of competition backers Stelrad - who also sponsor NUFC.

Its a 7.30pm kick-off and admission is £5 adults and £3 concessions at East Stand turnstiles.

Foodbank fundraiser:
Mini surfer sale

Following numerous requests, the worflags group have produced a miniature version of the "We are the Mags" surfer flag that debuted on the Gallowgate End before the Liverpool game.

These are £6 each and all profits from sales will go to the Newcastle United Foodbank, with the intention of maintaining support to that cause during the close season. Order online here

Injury:
Yedlin update

Magpies defender DeAndre Yedlin looks to have been ruled out of international duty this close season, as he recovers from groin surgery.

The 25 year-old had been spoken of as a possible inclusion in the USA squad for the Concacaf Gold Cup Finals that begin in mid June.

However latest reports from his home country suggest that he won't resume training until nearer the end of June and therefore will be omitted from their tournament squad.

Championship:
Villans or Rams

Update: Wednesday evening saw Derby County win 4-2 against Leeds at Elland Road to confirm their place in the Championship play-off at Wembley, where their opponents will be Aston Villa. 

Earlier: West Bromwich Albion's hopes of promotion to the Premier League were ended by rivals Aston Villa in a penalty shootout on Tuesday - a turn of events that could yet benefit Newcastle United.

Trailing 1-2 after the first leg and unable to field the suspended Dwight Gayle following his dismissal at Villa Park, the Baggies drafted fellow Magpie loanee Jacob Murphy into their starting XI. 

He played for the first 82 minutes as Albion squared the tie and then took to it extra time, only to then be beaten 4-3 in the penalty shootout.

It had been reported that the agreed sale price of Salomon Rondon this summer would increase should his parent club West Brom be in the Premier League.

Failing to gain promotion though means that it remains at £16.5m for a player who turns 30 in September and will be a free agent in a year.

24 goals this season from Gayle took Albion close to promotion and they would doubtless be keen to retain him at the Hawthorns. However, it's by no means certain that the player would favour that - and Murphy simply didn't do enough to warrant keeping.

Championship play-offs:

Sat 11.05.2019: Villa 2-1 West Brom
Sat 11.05.2019: Derby 0-1 Leeds
Tue 14.05.2019 West Brom 1-0 Villa
Wed 15.05.2019 Leeds 2-4 Derby

Play-off final @ Wembley (3pm)

Mon 27.05.2019: Aston Villa v Derby County

50 years on:
Rangers recollections 

In an extract from his upcoming book, "The Amazing Journey", author Matthew Watson-Broughton gives some background to United's 0-0 draw against Rangers at Ibrox in the Fairs Cup half a century ago.

Find that online here

Copies of the book can be pre-ordered online here for £19.99 including free UK postage (for an author-signed copy add NUFC.com to delivery instructions.)

2018/19:
First departures 

Newcastle forward Callum Roberts has taken to social media confirming his exit from the club, ahead of an imminent contract expiration. 

The 22 year-old Tynesider played his final game for the club in Monday's U23 defeat at Southampton, ending a 14 year association with the Magpies.

Graduating from the juniors to debut for the club's reserve side during 2013, winger/attacker Callum 
made his senior bow in January 2015 from the substitute's bench in a 0-1 FA Cup loss at Leicester City.

Loan spells at Gateshead and Kilmarnock failed to help him break into the first team squad at SJP, until an unexpected call-up back in January.

Handed a starting berth for an FA Cup Third Round replay at Blackburn along with fellow reserve Sean Longstaff, both lads netted in a 4-2 victory.

While Longstaff retained his place in the first team squad, Roberts wasn't so fortunate and instead an ill-fated loan move to League Two Colchester United followed, where he barely featured.

Claims of interest from several un-named Championship side have emerged, along with links to clubs in Germany and Greece.

The latter is reportedly Panathinaikos, where recruitment comes under the remit of Sporting Director and former Magpie defender Nikos Dabizas. 

Meanwhile, Academy goalkeeping coach Steve Harper is also leaving his position, having joined the club's backroom staff as U16 coach in 2016.

Stepping up to become lead goalkeeping coach for the club's U18 and U23 sides this season, Harper's final club duties will be at this weekend's Soccer Sevens Tournament in Hong Kong. 

He'll then revert to his other role of Northern Ireland goalkeeping coach under Michael O'Neill for two Euro 2020 qualifiers in June.

PS: A few media outlets have commented on the club's decision to release Lewis McNall - without realising that the reserve striker was actually let go by United back in 2018 online here

The confusion seems to have arisen after Lewis tweeted recently about looking for a new playing opportunity. He's actually just got back to full fitness following an injury in April 2018. 

Premier League:
Asia Trophy update

Details of Newcastle's participation in the Premier League Asia Trophy in July have been confirmed.

Newcastle kick off the event by facing Wolves at Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre on Wednesday July 17th at 6pm local time, before Manchester City and West Ham meet there at 8.30pm.

All four PL sides then move on to the Hongkou Stadium Shanghai on Saturday July 20th, with the losing sides facing each other at 6pm ahead of the final between the winning pair at 8.30pm.

The four clubs involved have taken allocations of tickets for each venue and will be selling these direct to their own fans.

NUFC began selling theirs to season ticket holders on Tuesday, priced at £32 for Nanjing and £43 for Shanghai - tickets covering the full day and both games at each venue.

That looks to be in a higher price bracket than Wolves, who are flogging theirs for £21 and £32.

That process of obtaining tickets looks to be easier for UK based fans than official guidance published by the PL of buying from two separate agencies in China (one for each venue).  

The published capacities of each ground are 61,000 (Nanjing) and 33,060 (Shanghai).

PS: Wolves have also published a FAQ here

Premier League:
Thames cruise

Fulham  0  Newcastle  4

Match report

U23s:
Second string end 
up empty-handed 

Southampton U23s  2  Newcastle U23s  1

Match report

Internationals:
Miggy selected 



Having made a timely recovery from the hamstring problem that sidelined him for Newcastle's closing three games of the season, Miguel Almiron is set to represent his country over the summer.

The 25 year-old midfielder is in an initial 40 man selection for Paraguay's Copa America campaign which kicks off on June 14th in Brazil.

12 teams including Venezuela and Japan are contesting the bi-annual tournament, while Paraguay drawn in Group C along with Qatar, Argentina and Colombia. 

That runs through July 7th, meaning that Almiron will be permitted a late return to pre-season training at United.

Loans:
Henri in peril 

Henri Saivet (Bursaspor)
With two games left, Bursaspor remain in the last of the three Turkish Super Lig relegation spots - one point adrift and with an inferior goal difference.

Sunday sees them host fellow strugglers Goztepe before their final fixture takes them to Yeni Malatyaspor on Saturday week, 25th. 

Academy:
SuperCupNI draw 

Newcastle United will once again be sending a team to contest the NI Super Cup tournament (formerly the Milk Cup) this year, with an U17 squad participating in the Premier Section. 

The event runs from Monday July 29th until Friday August 2nd at venues across Northern Ireland and United's Group E opponents are FC Edmonton (Canada), Hull City and County Londonderry.

Venues and dates/kick-off times are awaited.

PS: Tyneside will also be represented at U15 level this year, with a team from Wallsend Boys Club entering the Junior section.

U23s:
Cup disappointment 

Everton U23s  1  Newcastle U23s  0

Match report

Old boys:
Hoy oots 

Ex-Magpies now free agents include:

Mehdi Abeid (Dijon)
Hatem Ben Arfa (Rennes)
Adam Campbell (Morecambe)
Andy Carroll (West Ham)
Nicky Deverdics (Wrexham)
Ryan Donaldson (Hartlepool United)
Brad Inman (Rochdale)
Dan Leadbitter (Bristol Rovers)
Sylvain Marveaux (Lorient)
Emmanuel Riviere (Metz)
Danny Simpson (Leicester City)
Ryan Taylor (Fleetwood Town)

2019/20:
Kit claim 

After online claims of designs for next season's NUFC kits emerged in February online here, this leaked version of the home design is now doing the rounds.