"Building a skyscraper" - Newcastle squad told to…

"Building a skyscraper" - Newcastle squad told to dream big by PIF supremo amid £97m reminder

Newcastle United picked up where they left off before the World Cup break to leave Eddie Howe delighted but still asking for more from his players.

One thing is for certain in the January window at Newcastle and that is the Magpies won't just buy for the sake of it in 2023. For all that, it is clear that they aren't looking to rest on their laurels either.

Accepting just doing slightly better isn't in the PIF blueprint and a walk around Riyadh tells you exactly that. Indeed, a glance at the illustrious PIF Tower, the tallest building in the city, tells you the Newcastle owners aim high and just like the 1,263 ft supertall skyscraper the club are building something huge.

Howe pointed to the fact that only players such as £63million Alexander Isak and £34million Sven Botman are now going to "influence" his thoughts on selection. So it will be interesting indeed when the window swings open for business in a few weeks.

At a dinner at the home of chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan this week the players were told by the Toon supremo to be as ambitious as they possibly can. Howe said this week in Riyadh: "It was, ‘Well done but we want more, we’re very ambitious.’ I think that’s what the players want to hear. He just (wants us) to continue to work as hard as (we) are and stick together as a team. "He’s been really pleased watching the team, how it’s fought for everything."

When the PIF supremo arrived at St James' Park he told us to "expect ambition" and nothing the travelling media have witnessed here in Riyadh has left anybody thinking anything otherwise.

That was a message echoed by high-ranked Newcastle officials such as Amanda Staveley and Darren Eales this week. And as the Magpies put five past Al-Hilal it is clear that no player can afford to be here for the ride, no player can simply walk back into the team anymore and every player knows they could be one swift transaction away from having a top international vying for their position.

But one of the brilliant things about Newcastle these days is the management style of Howe is bringing the best out of some of the players he inherited. Joelinton showed that last night here in Saudi Arabia when he netted twice in the first half and looked every inch the £40million signing made in 2019 as he prodded and probed down the left.

Miguel Almiron then came off the bench and not only scored twice but took control of the full game with two well taken strikes as well as hitting the bar. But others like Sean Longstaff, Ryan Fraser, Jamaal Lascelles, Joe Willock and Jacob Murphy were all really impressive on the night.

As the Magpies lined up for their team picture before the game it had the feel of a night in the Champions League. If Newcastle keep pushing the way big nights like the one in the Middle East might well become a reality.

Toon chief Al-Rumayyan watched on with a big smile on his face as Newcastle lifted the Diriyah Season Cup at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium. United players posed with individual pictures with the cup and Murphy hoisted it wildly in front of the fans.

With Newcastle still alive in both domestic cups and fighting in the top three for a huge prize in Europe, you could not help but wonder what it would be like if the Magpies can end that 54-year trophy drought.

"Building a skyscraper" - Newcastle squad told to dream big by PIF supremo amid £97m reminder

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