Eddie Howe has revealed that Newcastle United players and staff were left 'very impressed' following an 'inspirational' speech from Magpies' chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan in Jeddah.
The first-team set-up have visited Saudi Arabia for the first time since the club's takeover was finally completed back in October as part of a warm-weather training camp.
Howe has worked his players hard in the heat but the squad have also had the chance to take part in a series of team-bonding exercises, including go-karting and camel riding.
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Al-Rumayyan has also had the opportunity to personally address players and staff and, in Howe's own words, the governor of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund gave his 'thoughts on the club, his vision and how the future looks'.
"It was more the short-term," the Newcastle head coach told reporters on Zoom. "There's no point looking too long-term with the players at that moment but it was more a motivational and inspirational talk based on the shorter term, the collective team spirit, the collective aims that we have between now and the end of the season.
"We were all very impressed with what was said and how it was said, and I'm sure the players left very enthused and ready to work."
There was already renewed confidence in the camp following Newcastle's crucial 1-0 win against Leeds last week, which has left Howe's side just one point off safety.
Newcastle showed real spirit to claim just their second victory of the campaign at Elland Road and that is the sort of display Al-Rumayyan will hope the Magpies can build on.
"There were no assurances," Howe said. "It was more a conversation based around what's going on on the pitch, the togetherness and the fight that we need and the fact everyone is there to support the players.
"It was very much a nice feeling rather than any big promises or assurances. It was just a nice way for us to all spend a little bit of time together and to get to know each other better.
"That includes everybody connected to the staff, players. It was a really nice moment and we all enjoyed it."
Al-Rumayyan, Howe and Amanda Staveley, who also travelled out to Saudi, have kept in regular contact with Newcastle's UK-based owners, Mehrdad Ghodoussi and Jamie Reuben, and the club's recruitment team during a hectic final few days of the transfer window.
Having already signed Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood earlier this month, Newcastle are close to completing the signing of Lyon midfielder Bruno Guimaraes
Howe hopes Newcastle may yet be able to make further additions before Monday's 11pm deadline - a quality centre-back remains a priority - but this has certainly been a difficult window to navigate.
"With every window you go through, you learn different things because no windows are ever the same so you have new experiences," he added.
"I won't bore you with it, but I could sit here with you for hours and talk about what's happened and different things have occurred in the window. But that is football and that is the transfer market. You can never predict what's going to happen. Everyone will come out of this wiser and more experienced.
"Is there a Newcastle tax? There possibly is in all honesty, but that's just something we've had to live with. I don't think that will be evident further down the line as we go further into our journey."
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