Sven Botman admits Newcastle United's warm weather trip to Saudi Arabia will be fantastic for team building as the Magpies look to continue their fine run of form in the second-half of the season. The Dutchman and his Newcastle co-stars flew out to the Middle East over the weekend and have started preparing for a friendly with Saudi side Al Hilal this week.
Eddie Howe 's massively benefitted from two similar trips earlier this year and the Toon boss is hoping for another positive trip away to galvanise his playing squad after an impressive start to the campaign. Speaking to club media, Botman admits keeping team spirit high is priority number one during the trip this week.
"I'm always looking forward to these kinds of trips because you get to know everyone well," he told NUFC TV. "You are together 24/7 so it is good for the team building, to get better together and for everyone to get fit. But the most important thing is the team building.
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"I think these kinds of weeks will have a better result on us when we go back to Newcastle. The togetherness, the spirit and the team building."
Howe knows how beneficial these short breaks abroad can be for morale, with Newcastle excelling at home after similar trips in 2022. The Newcastle chief sees the World Cup break as a mini pre-season for his flying-high side.
"Our trip to Jeddah in January was pivotal for us last season." Howe said last month. "It galvanised the group, and the hard work the players put in was rewarded in performances and results on our return.
"We will have access to world class facilities as refurbishments at our own training ground continue, and we look forward to facing Al-Hilal and playing in front of our growing numbers of supporters in the region."
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