Hull City (a) SOLD OUT
Girona (h) Public sale now
Brest (h) Public sale now

Premier League:
Saints (h) ballot 

Mags+, Mags and Junior Mags Members can enter the ballot for Southampton (h) tickets from 10am this coming Tuesday (23rd).

Internationals:
Travis plays on 

Sunday saw Norway U19s round off their group stage fixtures at the European Championship finals with a 2-0 win over tournament hosts Northern Ireland.

Newcastle midfielder Travis Hernes made his third start of the week for Norway, playing 86 minutes before being substituted.

The Norwegians missed out on a semi-final place after finishing third in their group, but have qualified for a playoff to determine who takes the fifth and final European place at next year's U20 World Cup in Chile. 

That takes place on Wednesday at Seaview in Belfast. The opposition will be Turkey. 

96 tears:
"Love It..." offer

Following a successful run there last year, "Love It If We Beat Them" returns to the Live Theatre on Newcastle Quayside from September 10th to the 28th.

Rob Ward's play mixes football and politics against a backdrop of Newcastle's fruitless pursuit of the 1995/96 Premiership title.

NUFC.com readers can buy tickets for just £19.96 by using promo code NUFC here. 

The discount also extends to personal callers at the box office but is only valid until the start of the PL season on August 17th. 

2024/25:
Three stripes,
three goals
 
SpVgg Unterhaching  1  Newcastle  3

Newcastle celebrated their first game clad in an adidas kit since 2010 with victory over third tier opposition in Germany on Saturday.

The unannounced kickabout rounded off a week-long training camp for Eddie Howe's side at adidas HQ in Herzogenaurach. 

3-0 up at the interval through Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak, a shadow XI was then introduced, including debutant goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos. 

The Greek international conceded and was beaten by a penalty from midfielder Simon Skarlatidis for the only goal of the second period seven minutes before full time.

There were also first senior outings for highly-rated young trio Alfie Harrison, Leo Shahar and Trevan Sanusi. 

Team (first half): Pope, Lewis, Krafth, Burn, Hall, J.Murphy, Joelinton, Longstaff, White, Barnes, Isak.

Team (second half): Vlachodimos, J.Miley, Heffernan, Stanton, Shahar, Emerson, Turner-Cooke, Al.Harrison, Sanusi, Kuol, Parkinson.

Subs n/u: none (tbc).

Goals: Barnes 5, J.Murphy 24, Isak 43.

SpVgg: Heide, Zentrich, Stiefler, Schwabl, Lamby, Littig, Maier, Breuer, Leuthard, Kügel, Jastremski.

(Six subs appeared for SpVgg but who they replaced wasn't recorded. Skarlatidis came on at half time before Winklbauer, Adu, Waidner, Westermeier and Hennig arrived on the hour).

Referee: tbc.

Miguel Almiron, Martin Dubravka, Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes, Fabian Schar and Kieran Trippier weren't at the training camp after playing internationally post-season.

Matt Targett, Sven Botman, Jamaal Lascelles and Lewis Miley continue their recovery from injury, while Tino Livramento, Lloyd Kelly and Joe Willock weren't deemed fit enough to play.

Mark Gillespie, John Ruddy and Max Thompson didn't get any pitch time, while Callum Wilson has left for treatment on a back problem (see below). 

Sandro Tonali's absence was unexplained while we're also unsure why Harrison Ashby wasn't involved.

Jamal Lewis was seen in a Newcastle shirt for the first time in a year, playing in the friendly at Rangers before making a loan switch to Watford.

Incoming:
Miodrag is a Mag 

Saturday saw confirmation that Newcastle had signed 19 year-old Serbian youth international Miodrag Pivas, some days after he was spotted outside St.James' Park.

The defensive midfielder joins from Serbians FK Jedinstvo for an undisclosed fee, having made 26 appearances in his debut season as they gained promotion to the Super Liga, 

Latest:
Wilson's back.... 

Newcastle have been hit by a further injury blow, with confirmation that Callum Wilson has left the club's training camp due to injury.

Speaking on Friday, Eddie Howe said:

"Callum (Wilson) has just gone to see a back specialist just to have a little procedure on his back...It’s just something he’s been feeling a little bit so we’re just getting it checked out. Let’s see (if he'll be fit for the start of the season)." 

The 32 year-old has one year on his current contract and although in the squad that travelled to Germany, was absent from group photographs taken in recent days. 

Update:
Howe: doubts grow

From The Times on Friday, quotes from Eddie Howe that seem to indicate issues behind the scenes at SJP, even without throwing the England job into the mix:

(BBC Radio Newcastle interviewed Howe on Friday, but the following quotes originate from a separate written media press conference):

Eddie Howe has warned Newcastle they risk losing him to England if they weaken his control at the club.

Howe, who is favourite to succeed Gareth Southgate as England manager, has lost his key boardroom allies Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi, who sold their six per cent shareholding in Newcastle last week.

The 46-year-old fears their departures may lead to his power being diminished and, in his first public comments since Southgate's resignation last week, sought reassurances that the restructuring must be right for him.

“I absolutely want to stay but it has to be right for me and the football club,” said Howe. “There’s absolutely no point in me saying I’m happy staying at Newcastle if the dynamic isn’t right. I’m certainly not serving Newcastle well if I do that.

“So, as long as I am happy, feel supported, feel free to work in the way that I want to work, I have not thought of anything else other than Newcastle.

“I absolutely love the club. I love the supporters. I love where I am at in my career. There is no better place for me to be. That is how I feel.”

Newcastle have appointed a new sporting director (Paul Mitchell) and a performance director (James Bunce) in the past month and the chief executive Darren Eales said on Tuesday “what we have to do is to channel Eddie onto what he does best and that is on the grass. With that he is phenomenal.”

Howe added: “There has been a lot of change at the football club this summer. It has been a very difficult summer for everyone connected with the club. With change comes always a new feeling.

“You can point to PSR, Amanda and Mehrdad, a change in sporting director which, of course, influences me. These are all big changes. That is why I’ve made the points that I have because this has to work for Newcastle.

“It’s not about me as the manager. I’m slightly irrelevant. It’s about making sure Newcastle United is as strong as it can be for the next season and beyond. We’ve all got to come together and make sure we are the force that we want to be.

“For me, it’s not about England. That is absolutely someone else’s conversation, not mine. Mine is Newcastle. To speak about something else while manager of Newcastle is wrong. I don’t think I have to say the answer again. The answer is clear.

Howe has had considerable power in the transfer market since he was appointed Newcastle head coach in November 2021 and he was asked if having control of transfers would impact his happiness at Newcastle.

“At any football club it can’t be one man’s decision and I wouldn’t expect that to be the case,” he added. “I think collaboration on every level is vital. There has to be a unity around every decision because it is so big now. That collaboration is important to me. 

"It’s difficult because Amanda and Mehrdad have been incredible for the football club along with everyone else. It has been a real team effort since I have been here. I built up a strong relationship with them. They were very active and vocal and supportive.”

In a candid half hour interview at the Adidas HQ in Germany on Friday he was asked if he expected to be in charge of Newcastle for their first day of the season against Southampton on August 17.

“As long as I’m happy in the position that I’m in,” he replied. “As long as I feel supported by the football club and free to work in the way that I want to work, yes. That is the crucial thing.

“I’m not talking about England. England is not even on my focus, it’s all about Newcastle it has been all summer. I think England is a very special job for someone. I am very patriotic and I’m not ashamed to say that. I love my country. I want my country to do well. I was gutted for Gareth and the lads that they did not win the Euros but I don’t have that job like a burning sensation in me that I have to do it at some stage.

“I have been really happy for two-and-a-half years. I have loved every second of the relationships that I’ve had and the way I’ve been able to work. I think that has brought success.

“We’re in the flux of change, it’s just happened. I can’t say with a definitive answer where that will lead. I hope it leads to everything that I’ve just said. I'm not really seeking assurances. It'll be a feeling because the club have made decisions.

“I don't think I have the right to challenge those or the want to challenge those decisions. The club has to choose its direction and that is absolutely their right.

“I’ve got no issue with that, but obviously I have to be happy in my work. I have to feel that this is something that can benefit me and the football club for it to work. I hope you understand what I'm trying to say.”

Howe signed an improved deal last summer at Newcastle which moved his salary beyond £6 million-a-year and sees his contract now run until 2027.

He admitted the summer had been difficult when Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh were sold to avoid a potential points deduction for breaking the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.

“It’s been a very difficult summer for everyone connected with the club,” he added. “I’m not sure if unsettled is the right word really. I haven’t been unsettled.”

The transfer window closes on September 2 and England play their next game on September 7, in the Nations League against the Republic of Ireland.

Nippon 8:
And it stoned me

Ahead of United's first games there in almost 30 years, our Japan correspondent Simon Moran talks about cars and cava here

2024/25:
Home game ballot
procedure altered 

From NUFC, Friday:

Following a consultation process with supporters, Newcastle United is making changes to how Mags+, Mags and Junior Mags Members can apply for home match tickets for the upcoming season.

As part of its commitment to fan engagement and improving membership benefits, the club has conducted a series of workshops and commissioned surveys to gauge supporters’ feedback, and ideas, ahead of the 2024/25 campaign at St. James’ Park.

Following a review of feedback, and after further supportive discussions with its Fan Advisory Board (FAB), the Club can announce the following process for members wanting to attend home matches. Details of the survey results and FAQ’s can be found here.

The club will continue to operate a Member Ballot for the majority of available home match tickets, with 65% of members surveyed in favour of retaining a ballot model. However, the ballot process will change to allow members that are successful in the ballot to select their seat within a specified time period.

A small percentage of available home match tickets will be retained for a new, later Member General Sale Period on a first come, first served basis – with 66% of respondents in favour having this option available.

Mags+, Mags and Junior Mags Members must use the Club’s online ticketing platform to enter the ballot for home match tickets. As part of this process, members will be asked to select one of the following seating areas (subject to eligibility and availability):

Family Stand
Rest of Stadium
Accessible tickets
Once the ballot is drawn, members who are successful in the ballot will receive email confirmation.

Successful members (or relevant Lead Bookers) will then have 48 hours to log on to the online booking system to select their specific seat(s), complete the transaction and make a payment.

If a seat is not selected AND payment is not completed within the 48-hour period, the member will lose their guaranteed access to a home match ticket and will need to apply through the subsequent Member General Sale Period.

Following the Mags+, Mags and Junior Mags Member Ballot, a Member General Sale Period will take place.

As part of this process, a ring-fenced portion of home match tickets will go on sale, at a specified date and time, exclusively on the club’s online ticketing platform.

It will operate on a first come, first served basis, and will only be open to Mags+, Mags and Junior Mags Members who do not already have a ticket for the relevant match.

Members logging in before tickets go on sale will be held in an online queue. Once tickets go on sale, all members waiting to purchase a ticket will be randomly assigned a designated queue number. This stops supporters needing to log in hours in advance and supports efforts to combat ticket touting “bots”.

Once at the front of the queue, supporters will have TEN MINUTES to access the website and complete their purchase. If they fail to do so, they will be moved to the back of the queue.

The club strongly advises members not to leave their device unattended during this time as they may miss the buying window and important messaging.

Newcastle United operates an Official Re-Sale Platform. If match tickets are sold out, Mags+, Mags and Junior Mags Members can access seats made available for re-sale by season ticket holders on a first come, first served basis.

Seats can become available up to three hours before kick-off.

Updates:
Communication

In addition to photos of the senior squad using the sports facilities at the adidas HQ, Newcastle recorded interviews with some key figures in Germany:

CEO Darren Eales here

Sporting Director Paul Mitchell here

The club have also published their first Fan Engagement Review document, which is explained here. The actual report is here

England:
Ready, Eddie, go?

News of Gareth Southgate's resignation as England manager on Tuesday triggered media speculation that Eddie Howe is on the FA's shortlist to replace him.

The Times claim that the Newcastle boss is the FA's preferred candidate, along with the unattached Graham Potter and England U21 boss Lee Carsley.

50 year-old Carsley has been in charge of the U21s since 2021, winning the Euros last year while Potter has been jobless since leaving Chelsea in April 2023.

Interviewed via Zoom on Tuesday, United CEO Darren Eales pledged to rebuff any potential approach for Howe, saying that:

"Eddie is under a long-term contract with the club. You see him, he loves the day to day of club football and we have an exciting project here in terms of the commitment from the ownership and the journey we want to go on. 

"We are really excited about this season ahead. For us, he is exactly the right man for the project we are on at Newcastle United and that is why we are committed to a long term deal with him. That’s why we think he’s the right man for Newcastle. We love him.

"I’ve spent the last three months with Eddie in terms of how we’re planning for Newcastle United for the season ahead.

"For us as a club Eddie has done a brilliant job. He’s a great developer of players. He gets the psyche of the club and Newcastle and the fans. We’ve seen that with the way the team and the supporters have that affinity. “

Eales also revealed that Howe agreed an extension to his Newcastle contract last year.

“I don’t want to talk on it but it’s a multi-year deal and in those circumstances, like any employee from us, there will have to be compensation paid.

"Again, it’s hypothetical but he’s under a multi-year deal, there’s not a set number, it’s about he’s our employee so from that perspective we’re not looking to release Eddie for all the reasons I’ve spoken about.

"He’s a top coach, he’s the right coach for Newcastle United at the right moment and this is the coach we want to lead the club for the future."

Coral odds here (in Football Specials):

Potter 2/1
Carsley 5/2
Howe 11/4

Update:
Here are the 
young men

Update: there's news of an addition to the pro contract list below in the shape of teenage goalkeeper James Taylor, who featured for Hemel Hempstead Town last season.

Newcastle confirm that 11 players have signed their first professional contracts at Gallowgate:

Aidan Harris, Dylan Charlton, Anthony Munda, Harry Powell, Rory Powell, Johnny Emerson, Sean Neave, Scott Bailey, Josh Donaldson, Adam Harrison and Darren Palmer.

Meanwhile, an intake of 14 new scholars was announced by United's Academy:  

Will Anderson, Guy Bloomer, Jude Cogdon, Jake Durrant, Matheos Ferreira, Henry Johnson, Tyler Jones, Alex O’Donovan, Matt Taylor, Mo Waddani, Kacey Wooster, Kayden Lucas, Ezra Tika-Lemba and Aaron Epia. 

Three of those were previously with other clubs:

Kayden Lucas striker, Clevedon Town
Aaron Epia defender, Everton
Ezra Tika-Lemba defender, West Ham

Update:
Transfers

First team arrivals and departures:

Inbound:
Odysseas Vlachodimos Nottingham Forest
John Ruddy unattached
Lloyd Kelly unattached
Lewis Hall Chelsea 

Outbound:
Elliot Anderson Nottingham Forest
Yankuba Minteh Brighton
Paul Dummett unattached
Matt Ritchie unattached
Loris Karius unattached
Kell Watts unattached
Jeff Hendrick unattached  

Old boys:
Unlikely lads

SJP old boys with new clubs/jobs include:

Craig Bellamy Wales Manager
Kyle Cameron St.Johnstone (loan)
Adam Campbell Hartlepool United
Lewis Cass Grimsby Town
Ian Cathro Estoril (Portugal) Head Coach
Luke Charman Hartlepool United
Stephen Clemence Barrow Head Coach
Kyle Crossley South Shields
Mathieu Debuchy Lille (France) C
Ryan Donaldson Blyth Spartans
Cameron Ferguson Inverness CT (Scotland)
Owen Gallacher Stockton Town
Dan Gosling Westfield
Jamie Holmes North Shields
Jack Hunter Hartlepool United
Joselu Al-Gharafa (Qatar)
Dan Langley Morpeth Town
Michael Ndiweni Darlington (trial)
Michael Newberry Cliftonville
Scott Parker Burnley Manager
Ben Pollock Chester
Allan Saint-Maximin Fenerbahce (Turkey)
Antoine Sibierski Troyes DoF (France)
Moussa Sissoko Watford
Dylan Stephenson Dagenham & Redbridge
Jude Smith Carlisle United
Lewis Suddick North Shields
Ben Tozer Forest Green Rovers
Dan Ward South Shields
Kell Watts Cambridge United
Callum Williams Tow Law Town

Ex-Magpies looking for new clubs include:

Mehdi Abeid Istanbul Basaksehir (Turkey)
Chris Basham Sheffield United
Ciaran Clark Stoke City
Shane Ferguson Rotherham United
Dwight Gayle Derby County
Paul Huntington Carlisle United
Kazenga LuaLua Charlton Athletic
Jonathan Mitchell Harrogate Town
Islam Slimani Anderlecht (Belgium)
Patrick van Aanholt Galatasaray (Turkey)
Josef Yarney Tranmere Rovers

Off-field departures include:

Habib Beye Red Star Paris (France)
Emre Ankaragucu (Turkey)
Steve Guppy Nashville SC (USA)
Kevin Nolan West Ham