Newcastle United's time in Austria has to come to an end. During nine intense days, the players' fitness has been built up during intense double sessions in the heat; Eddie Howe and his staff have worked on building a style of play; and a tight-knit group has become even closer.
Even the staff were tired by the time Newcastle took on Mainz 05 on Monday but, against a better standard of opposition, the Magpies did play with a greater intensity than three days previously versus 1860 Munich. Although the stifling heat slowed the game down at times at the Kufstein Arena, it was played in the competitive manner Howe wanted. Indeed, at one point in the first half, Alexander Hack took out Miguel Almiron down the right before Paul Dummett scythed down Silvan Widmer down Newcastle's left a couple of minutes later.
There was certainly no faulting Newcastle's effort during the 1-0 defeat and, at this rate, the black-and-whites will not be undercooked like they were going into last season given the amount of ball work they have done and the games they will have played. It is not a coincidence that friendlies were arranged against three sides, Mainz, Atalanta and Athletic Bilbao, who finished eighth in their respective leagues in Germany, Italy and Spain, while next week's opponents, Benfica, were Champions League quarter-finalists last season. Burnley, meanwhile, who Newcastle face behind-closed-doors on Saturday, were a fellow Premier League outfit only a few months ago.
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It is hard to think of a more demanding pre-season schedule that Newcastle have had in recent memory, but Howe wants to ensure his side are ready to hit the ground running and build on a strong finish to last season by the time the Magpies face Nottingham Forest at St James' Park on the opening day. Whether Howe will have a new signing or two through the door by then remains to be seen, but it is easy to see why bringing in more firepower remains the priority this summer.
It was only a pre-season friendly, of course, but the Mainz game was another timely reminder of the work Newcastle still have to do in the final third - both on the training pitches and the transfer market. Callum Wilson has to be carefully managed - the striker was not exposed to an intense drill at the start of training on Sunday - and the burden needs to be eased on the number nine.
Finding a player or players of sufficient quality to do that is not easy, of course, when Newcastle are now fishing in a very different pond to a year ago. Newcastle have missed out on Hugo Ekitike, who joined PSG, while Armando Broja is edging closer to moving to West Ham at a time when a host of sides are searching for additional attacking options.
Newcastle have been priced out of moves for Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak and Bayern Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby, but Howe remains hopeful that the Magpies will pull off a 'couple' of deals before the window shuts.
"You can make big mistakes if you don't show patience at times," he warned in conversation with Sky Sports after Monday's 1-0 defeat. "You have to. We're trying to bring in the right players that hopefully make a difference to the team. Hopefully, we will get those calls right."
Newcastle could have just brought in another body, but Howe clearly has a profile in mind: someone like Sven Botman or Bruno Guimaraes who could make a real difference to a particular department. The Newcastle boss will hope that patient approach ultimately pays off, as it has in the past. The fact is that said target's name might not even have emerged yet as was the case with Bruno, who caught everyone cold late in the window in January.
When it comes to potential improvements in the final third, it is also important to note that while Newcastle have done a lot of work on and off the ball in Austria, whether it is playing out from the back or pressing high up the pitch, the fatigued Magpies have not yet focused on that final step in front of goal. There is no doubt that this attack will get better with further sessions and further match sharpness; you only have to look at how Arsenal struggled to cope with Newcastle's front three back in May to realise that.
However, in saying that, a game-changing forward on the right wing who could add creativity and a goal threat would take this frontline to the next level. Newcastle certainly lacked that X-Factor against Mainz's well-drilled back five.
It was Chris Wood who led the line from the off yesterday, supported by Ryan Fraser and Miguel Almiron, as the XI that finished Friday's 3-0 win against 1860 Munich kept their places three days later. There was no faulting the intent Newcastle played with but Wood, ultimately, had little to feed off during an uneventful first half aside from a couple of half-chances, including a cutback from Almiron he skied over just after the half-hour mark.
Newcastle did not work Robin Zentner between the sticks until the 54th minute when Almiron again cut the ball back and Joelinton let fly, but the 'keeper got down to make the save. Mainz took the lead just a few minutes later when Kieran Trippier's quick free-kick was intercepted deep in the Bundesliga side's half and Delano Burgzorg made Newcastle pay with a cool finish on the counter.
Howe, as planned, made a raft of changes on the hour mark and Allan Saint-Maximin, Callum Wilson and Jacob Murphy were among those who came on. Yet, of those who entered the fray, it was youngster Elliot Anderson who again caught the eye as he drove his side up the pitch.
Anderson slipped the ball to Emil Krafth during one such foray forward and the right-back's cross picked out Murphy, but the winger was unable to put it away when he should have scored. Newcastle just lacked that final ingredient in the final third: substitute Jonjo Shelvey's pass nearly sent Wilson through in the 73rd minute; Shelvey sliced a 20-yard effort a few minutes later after a moment of magic from Allan Saint-Maximin; and Wilson was denied one on one by substitute goalkeeper Finn Dahmen in the 81st minute.
The equaliser did not come, but the coming weeks on and off the field will go a long way to ensuring that is not the case when it matters most.
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