Here are your Newcastle United headlines for December 6.
Isak update
Eddie Howe says that Alexander Isak will not feature in Thursday's night exhibition game in Riyadh against Al-Hilal.
The Sweden striker has not suffered any type of setback and has been training both in the gym and on the grass after making his return from a thigh problem picked up on international duty. But sadly the big match in Saudi Arabia this week will come too early for the centre-forward.
Signed for £63million from Real Sociedad in the summer, Isak has two goals to his name already in a black and white shirt. But Howe will not take any risks as he looks to prepare him for the League Cup clash against AFC Bournemouth - a game the Newcastle boss sees as crucial to restarting the season in the right manner.
You can read the full story here.
Wilson dialogue
Newcastle United are in regular dialogue with England on Callum Wilson after their number 9 sat out of training with the Three Lions over in Qatar.
Wilson has suffered a minor muscle strain but Eddie Howe insists he is "fine" and should be back in action sooner rather than later. Although, like Newcastle have managed to do expertly this season, Wilson's game plan will be managed carefully by Gareth Southgate.
You can read the full story here.
Saint-Maximin update
Newcastle United star Allan Saint-Maximin is set to step up his fitness on Thursday evening in Riyadh.
The eagerly anticipated exhibition game will see Eddie Howe field a strong team against Al-Hilal with Joelinton, Sven Botman and the French winger all set to feature. Howe will, of course, be without his World Cup stars with Kieran Trippier, Nick Pope and Callum Wilson all in Qatar and preparing for Sunday's quarter-final clash in Qatar.
You can read the full story here.
Maddison's mentality
James Maddison has revealed that he has trained 'hard' rather than 'sulking' as the England international waits for his chance at the World Cup.
That attitude hints at the character traits that have long cemented Newcastle United's interest in the Leicester City star. The Magpies, of course, had two bids turned down for Maddison last summer and a senior source at the King Power Stadium previously stressed to ChronicleLive that manager Brendan Rodgers 'made our position clear - he's not for sale'.
It remains to be seen if Newcastle test that stance once again in 2023, as Maddison approaches the final 18 months of his contract, but the attacking midfielder does not have to look too far to get an insight on life at St James' Park. Although Maddison is currently with the Three Lions squad in Qatar, the 26-year-old revealed last week that there had been some 'banter' with Newcastle's England contingent - Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson and Nick Pope - about the 'speculation'.
Trippier et al already know what Maddison can do. As well as being a talismanic footballer, who has been directly involved in 44% of Leicester's Premier League goals this season, Maddison is the sort of player who would buy into the team-first mentality Eddie Howe is desperate not to 'destroy'.
You can read the full story here.
New commercial partnership
Newcastle United have secured another commercial partnership by striking a deal with Saudi Telecom Company (stc). The Middle East company becomes Newcastle's Official Digital Tour Partner, joining national airline carrier SAUDIA in becoming an Official Tour Partner for the Magpies' warm-weather training camp in Riyadh this week.
Stc operates in some of the biggest markets in the Middle East, offering digital services in IT, financial technology, digital media and cybersecurity. The company will have a digital presence at the Al-Hilal friendly match on Thursday afternoon and will continue to have a presence at St James’ Park in 2023.
You can read the full story here.
Isak feature
You could say Alexander Isak and Henok Goitom have one or two things in common. There may be a 15-year age gap between the pair, but these sons of Eritrea were both born in Solna on the outskirts of Stockholm and went on to play as strikers for AIK before sampling life in Spain at crucial junctures of their respective careers.
Remarkably, the pair's connection does not end there. Isak's father, Teame, even taught Goitom Tigrinya, the language of Eritrea, when the Swede was just 10 years of age. Two decades later, that same teacher was dropping off his son for training with Goitom and co at AIK.
Having seen first-hand how Isak has developed since then, Goitom knows more than most how the 23-year-old has 'not changed as a person' - even after a club-record move to Newcastle.
You can read the full story here.
Academy opportunity
Newcastle United U21s boss Elliott Dickman has urged the academy prospects selected by Eddie Howe to train with the first team in Saudi Arabia to 'make an impression'. Lewis Miley, Dylan Stephenson, Jay Turner-Cooke, Joe White and captain Alex Murphy have joined the senior setup as the Magpies prepare for the season to resume after the World Cup.
The squad arrived in Riyadh on Sunday, and were put through their paces in a training session at Al Hilal Saudi Club Stadium the following day. Newcastle face Al Hilal in a friendly on Thursday, before facing La Liga outfit Rayo Vallecano at St James' Park four days before their Carabao Cup clash with Bournemouth.
The five academy prospects are no strangers to Howe and his coaching staff, with all of them previously enjoying first-team training sessions. Dickman has expressed his delight at the 'dream' opportunity each of them has been handed, and has urged them to seize the chance with both hands.
You can read the full story here.
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