Whatever happens in January, there is at least one piece of business that Eddie Howe will hope to get done in the coming weeks - extending Loris Karius' contract. The former Liverpool goalkeeper joined the Magpies on a short-term deal back in September and has impressed club staff with his conduct behind the scenes and performances in training.
Newcastle supporters got their first glimpse of those qualities during the visitors' 5-0 win against Al Hilal on Thursday night. It may have only been a friendly, of course, but Karius was among those who caught the eye at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium. As well as distributing the ball effectively, Karius made a number of saves, including a finger-tip stop to keep out Andre Carrillo's goalbound effort, before the 'keeper went off at half-time in Riyadh.
You would not have thought it was Karius' first game in nearly two years or, indeed, this was the same player who looked a broken man after the 2018 Champions League final. Karius left the field in tears that night after being at fault for Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale's goals in Real Madrid's 3-1 win against Liverpool.
