Newcastle United worked this morning in temperatures of 27 degrees on day two of their warm-weather training camp in Riyadh.
Using the facilities of host club Al Hilal on the outskirts of the city, Eddie Howe ran the rule over Allan Saint-Maximin and Jonjo Shelvey who were just coming back to full fitness before the World Cup break. In a 15-minute warm-up session there was no sign of Alexander Isak working with the main group but with players at different stages of recovery, the Sweden international worked with rehab staff as he edges closer to fitness.
Isak, however, did train on the grass on Monday as he gets closer to a return after a thigh injury suffered playing for Sweden in the autumn.
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Howe is expected to name a strong side against the Saudi Arabia side on Thursday as the club look to grow their fanbase in the Middle East. Dan Burn may yet feature in the game despite joining the group later due to an illness.
Howe and his players will hold media interviews in Riyadh after training and there is a fan event at the Hyatt Regency hotel in the city tomorrow night. The team are expected to remain in Saudi Arabia until the weekend after flying out on Sunday night.
The United squad had dinner with Yasir Al-Rumayyan co-owner Amanda Staveley and other officials in the city last night. It is expected that CEO Darren Eales will meet supporters for a Q and A tomorrow at the fan event.
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