When Newcastle’s players arrived at Dubai’s Nad Al Sheba sports complex last week sharp-eyed onlookers were astonished to spot a couple of unexpected faces. Although Isaac Hayden and Ciaran Clark had been omitted from Eddie Howe’s 25-man Premier League squad in January, they were still offered seats on the plane to a warm-weather break in the Middle East and participated fully in a week’s bonding beneath a series of scorching Emirati suns.
“It’s very important we treat everyone with love and care,” explained Howe as he justified the pair’s inclusion. Football managers can never keep everybody happy all the time but Newcastle’s head coach has worked hard to create harmony at St James’ Park and the benefits are already translating into wins on the pitch.
