Newcastle United's pre-season plans have been left in tatters after a fixture wrangle resulted in the Ohio Cup being scrapped this summer.
The Magpies were due to fly out to America in July for games in Cincinnati and Columbus but potential fixtures against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Valencia and Villareal have now been shelved. Having waited for over two months for confirmations, with visas and paperwork also a big factor, United are now looking into alternative arrangements.
Whether any plans to fly across the Atlantic can be rectified at such short notice remains to be seen but UK-based supporters are still being urged not to book any flight until the full schedule can be shared. Wolves are still due to fly to the States and are trying to set up friendly matches with MLS clubs.
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But like Newcastle, they have already found the chances of finding gaps in the MLS fixture list to be difficult with the regular season in full flow. Chronicle Live understands Howe and his back-room team were positive about the trip but options across Europe are now being considered.
Other clubs such as Arsenal and Everton will also tour the States this summer but fixtures were confirmed some time ago. Setting up fixtures at short notice with MLS teams already in competitive action could prove difficult.
United struggled to find MLS opponents during their last trip to America in 2015 and ended up playing fixtures against Mexican side Atlas on a baseball pitch in Milwaukee, a clash against Sacramento Republic who were then lower league opposition and then a clash with Portland Timbers B team on the West Coast.
Howe is eager to fix up high quality opponents to test his side to their maximin levels. During his time with Bournemouth he arranged fixtures with top European sides like Lazio, Sevilla and Marseille to put his Cherries team through their paces. The Magpies will return for pre-season training on July 1. The club are set to confirm pre-season fixtures in due course.
