Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has handed more first-team opportunities to a host of youngsters who were involved in the trip to Saudi Arabia earlier this month. Alex Murphy, Lewis Miley and Jay Turner-Cooke were all called up for the warm weather trip and earned a smattering of minutes in the friendly win over Al-Hilal.
The trio were all included in a snowy training session at Newcastle's Darsley Park training base on Thursday, joined by fellow youngster Max Thompson. The goalkeeper, 18, has been impressing for the Magpies' youth teams of late.
Newcastle have put a big emphasis on finding the best young talent since the £300m takeover and Eddie Howe has been keen to promote the best of his young crop in recent months. A host of under-21 talent could get a further chance to shine in the St James' Park friendly with Rayo Vallecano on Saturday afternoon.
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Newcastle also received a timely boost with both Joelinton and Chris Wood taking part in the group session just days after the duo suffered injury scares while in the Middle East. Both men limped out of the Al-Hilal clash and made their way to the bench to watch the remainder of the game.
Howe told reporters after the game: "I think Chris has just got a back problem. I don’t think it’s too bad. Joelinton felt a tightness in his hamstring. I don’t think it’s a pull or anything. Fingers crossed, they’re not too bad."
Howe is also welcoming his World Cup players back into the fold following their Qatar jaunts. Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson returned on Wednesday, while Bruno Guimaraes was back on Tyneside and out on the training pitch on Thursday.
The Newcastle boss has vowed to take each player on a case by case basis as he plans individual return dates for each star. A host may be back in the frame to feature against Bournemouth next Tuesday.
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