Newcastle’s Japan No-Gos: The Players Staying Home and the Reasons Why

The Newcastle United players set off for Japan on Sunday.

Eddie Howe and a 29 man squad have two friendlies this week.

On Wednesday 31 July it is Urawa Red Diamonds v Newcastle United, this is a local 7.30pm kick-off and 11.30am in the UK.

Then Saturday 3 August it is Yokohama F Marinos v Newcastle United, which is a 7pm local time kick-off, 11am in the UK.

These are the 29 Newcastle United players who have flown to Japan:

Goalkeepers:

Pope, Ruddy, Dubravka, Vlachodimos, Gillespie

Defenders:

Ashby, Lewis, Livramento, Hall, Schar, Burn, Krafth, Kelly, Thompson, Heffernan

Midfield/Attack:

Tonali, Joelinton, Longstaff, Guimaraes, J.Miley, Barnes, J.Murphy, Almiron, Al.Harrison, Willock, Sanusi, Turner-Cooke, Parkinson, Isak

As you can see, Sandro Tonali is one of the 29 Newcastle United players who have gone to Japan but as well as not being able to play in competitive matches, the suspension means the midfielder can’t play in any of these public friendlies either.

A number of Newcastle United players haven’t travelled to Japan

Lewis Miley – Recovering from injury

Kieran Trippier – Allowed an extended break due to international involvement that didn’t end until 14 July

Jamaal Lascelles – Recovering from injury

Ross Fraser – Not part of Eddie Howe’s plans and expected to move this summer

Sven Botman – Recovering from injury

Anthony Gordon – Allowed an extended break due to international involvement that didn’t end until 14 July

Joe White – Recovering from injury

Isaac Hayden – Not part of Eddie Howe’s plans and expected to move this summer

Matt Targett – Recovering from injury

It can’t be helped with Gordon and Trippier, with England having reached the Euros final it always meant they would be allowed a bit of extra time compared to our other international players who exited the Euros and Copa America earlier. From what I have seen it is the same at other Premier League clubs who had players reach those finals.

When you take those two out of the equation, the list of those missing isn’t actually too bad.

Long-term injured Sven Botman is the only injured player who would make the first-choice Newcastle United eleven.

Then you have the likes of Lewis Miley, Lascelles and Targett who would be bench at best if everyone available.

Longstaff, Kelly and Willock all missed the trip to Hull as they stayed on Tyneside working on getting to full fitness, obviously it will be a step forward to see all three of them hopefully involved in one or both of these friendlies. Longstaff played in the behind closed doors friendly in Germany but Kelly is yet to turn out for Newcastle and Willock having been missing since late last season after an injury-hit campaign.

Schar and Almiron have returned from their extended international break and fingers crossed will be ready to be involved in these friendlies, the same situation with Dubravk, although it is generally accepted that he will be getting a transfer elsewhere this summer.

If these five outfield players (Longstaff, Kelly, Willock, Schar, Almiron) are back playing this week, it gives Eddie Howe far more options than he had at Hull, where all eight outfield subs after the break were reserve/under 21 players.

I know not ideal having a number of players already guaranteed to miss the start of the season, including the suspended Tonali, but add Trippier and Gordon as well to those above, then things start to look far better. I certainly can’t imagine Anthony Gordon needing much, if any, time to get match ready when he is back at the training ground, whilst after how Gareth Southgate went on in Germany this summer I am sure the winger will be very motivated to hit the ground running as soon as the season starts at Newcastle United in 19 days time.