An unprecedented winter World Cup may have placed your Newcastle United fix on ice but there are still plenty of talking points to digest. England are capturing the imagination of football fans across the country as club loyalties are put aside for a month of festivities.
While Gareth Southgate and Co aim to bring it home, Eddie Howe is meticulously planning for the Premier League’s resumption on Boxing Day. The Toon boss will take his squad to Saudi Arabia in the coming days for warm-weather training - a decision that proved a masterstroke last year.
Visiting the Middle East in January was outlined as a contributing factor to Newcastle’s miraculous survival. Building a positive team spirit has been at the forefront of Howe’s Tyneside revival and another trip away provides the platform to do just that.
