Eddie Howe watched Newcastle score three second-half goals as summer signing from Lille Sven Botman made his Toon debut.
The Geordies opened their pre-season campaign with a comprehensive win against German third-tier team Munich 1860, including goals from Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff and Bruno Guimaraes.
Newcastle have been based in Saalfelden in Austria all week in an intensive period of training and Howe effectively played two teams, after making ten subs shortly into the second half.
Big summer signing Botman, who was also courted by AC Milan, played the second half, which had more intensity than the first, which was goalless.
Sven Botman makes debut to sound of Batman song
The Holland U21 international was given his first run-out in black and white following his £37m move from Lille last month.
What a giant of a player he looks. Dan Burn stands at 6ft 6 tall, and Botman isn’t much shorter.
He played ten minutes as a left-sided centre-back, making interceptions and crisp passes into midfield alongside Burn, a fellow left-footer. Botman then moved to the left side which he prefers. The question for Howe is whether to nurture him on the right side partnering Burn, or his favourite left side alongside Fab Schar or Jamaal Lascelles.
Wherever he plays the opposition may try to expose him to pace, but he looks very accomplished on the ball and organising.
Allan Saint-Maximin is back… but will he be sold?
There is a question mark over ASM. If Newcastle could raise £40m plus by selling him, they may well cash in. But at that price, there’s been no takers. Spurs were interested but at a fraction of that fee.
Unless a massive wedge is put on the table, he is worth persevering with for now. In pre-season training videos, and here against 1860, he appears to be passing more after doing his tricks. Including one expert dink into the box for Joe Willock.
Callum Wilson will want to see him delivering better balls, more consistently, so he knows where and when to make his runs.
Maxi is a fun addition to the Toon team and is a handful for any right back, but he must prove himself a team player and find the balance between flair, unpredictability and being part of a strong team shape.
The French winger is Newcastle’s main spark but will need to produce more consistently and with a team ethic to stay much longer.
Academy star Elliot Anderson has earned his chance with the first team
If there could be one breakthrough player this season from the youth ranks it will be teenager Anderson.
He started against 1860 Munich in the No 10 role, slightly out to the left, behind Callum Wilson. If Newcastle can’t pull off a big-money strike signing before September, Anderson could earn a place in the first-team squad.
Last season he went on loan to Bristol Rovers and helped Joey Barton’s side to promotion, and earned rave reviews from the local fans, with his performances likened to Peter Beardsley.
Anderson buzzed around well and didn’t look out of place linking out on the left with Allan Saint-Maximin. There was one misplaced pass that was too adventurous, but he is worth persevering with in pre-season to test just where he stands among Howe’s squad,
Nicky Pope ready to be Newcastle and England No1
Many fans would argue there was no desperate need to find a new keeper. Martin Dubravka did ok last season, bar the away defeat to Spurs, and shook off the early season rust which showed when he returned from injury after October.
Eddie Howe recalled him for his second game, and he is a good shot stopper and with his feet.
But Pope will be Newcastle’s first choice this season after Howe sanctioned his £12m move from Burnley.
The debate at international level is whether he is top-notch with the ball at his feet, compared to Jordan Pickford and Dubravka.
Pope made a good save from a 20 yard free kick by Martin Kobylanski and had a tidy start to his campaign. He will be tested more than this but will be the man between the sticks this season.
Eddie Howe has arranged an idyllic venue to train and bond his squad
Deep in the Austrian alps, Newcastle United's pre-season base is top-notch and will be used by Liverpool in the next couple of weeks.
Against a backdrop of forested slopes and rocky peaks, with sunshine and warmth, Howe’s men have trained for the last five days in a hideaway that is far more appealing than a long wearying tour of the United States or the Far East.
They have ridden to the training pitches on mountain bikes, done a range of physical tests and had fun too with a particularly competitive go-karting competition.
The ski resort of Zell am See is 10 miles down the road and it’s proved a wholesome environment to refocus minds and bodies after ending last season with 12 wins in 18 games.
