Newcastle United welcomed back a clutch of players who have been linked with the exit door this summer on day one of pre-season training.
French winger Allan Saint-Maximin, skipper Jamaal Lascelles, back-up defender Javier Manquillo, Jamal Lewis and goalkeeper Karl Darlow were all back on the first day of testing and a training drill with Eddie Howe. The head coach must now decide what the next step will be as he looks to get the balance of game-time and squad harmony right for the new season.
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Saint-Maximin was told at the end of last season that he could dictate his own future and for now looks focused on the challenge of winning a place in Howe's team. The Frenchman had been linked with a clutch of clubs in the Saudi Pro League as well as interest from Marseille and AC Milan. Manquillo will be allowed to leave if he finds a club willing to match his current wages and the same goes for Northern Ireland defender Lewis.
Darlow's future looks uncertain with Nick Pope clearly the number 1 and Martin Dubravka still on the books. And Newcastle announced yesterday that Loris Karius had joined Mark Gillespie in signing a new deal. United aren't likely to have five goalkeepers in the squad this term.
Lascelles was linked with Luton and West Ham earlier this summer but was one of the first to return to Benton. United are believed to have a right-sided defender on their shopping list.
Pre-season training also saw a quick promotion back to the senior squad for 17-year-old star Lewis Miley. The teenager had started preparations for the new season with the Under-21s but was called up to the senior base by Howe on Sunday.
Kell Watts - who was injured on a loan stint with Peterborough United last term - is also back in training. The highly regarded Academy product was looked at by Howe 12 months ago during pre-season.
