Newcastle have been forced to unveil a FOURTH kit because all three official shirts clash with Brighton.
The Premier League have ruled the Geordies three new Castore kits - black and white, navy blue, and Saudi white and green, ALL clash too closely with Albion’s blue and white striped home kit.
So Eddie Howe’s side - fresh from an opening day win against Nottingham Forest - will wear a specially adapted warm up shirt. It will be sky blue and have the Tyneside skyline on it, including a silhouette of St James’ Park and the Tyne Bridge. They will wear black shorts and socks.
The shirt is usually worn for warm ups on match days, and has been branded with sponsors for the game on Saturday. Cynics will brand the change a marketing exercise after the club revealed the fourth shirt will soon be for sale at the club shop. Newcastle have yet to wear their third strip which caused controversy when released earlier this summer. It is white and green and appeared to be a nod to the Saudi Arabia national team colours. The Saudi Public Investment Fund are 80pc owners of Newcastle.
Meanwhile, Howe has warned new signing Sven Botman will have to earn his first team call up. The Dutch U21 star was left on the bench until the last minute of the Toon’s opening day win against Nottingham Forest - despite costing £32m. But Howe will ask for Botman to react as well as Bruno Guimaraes did last season - when the Brazilian signed for £40m but was introduced gradually as a substitute as he picked up the pace of the Premier League.
That slow introduction protected Guimaraes and he emerged as a big influence. Howe refused to drop left sided centre back Dan Burn and explained: “They (Fabian Schar and Burn) were excellent in the second half of last season, together with Jamaal Lascelles, who more than played his part and played a number of games as well. All three centre-backs were excellent, but we needed more strength in depth. This season, we couldn’t rely on three. Federico Fernandez has had quite a few injury problems, so we felt it was a position we needed to strengthen.
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“Sven has been a long-term target for us – I’m delighted to have signed him. This period – however long it is before he gets to start – will do him the world of good. He’ll get to know the league and get to know the speed, and I’ve got absolutely no doubts about him as a player. He’s going to be a top player for this football club in my opinion, but there’s real competition for places. Fabian, Dan and Jamaal are not going to give their shirts up easily, and it’s a battle that I’ll love to see unfold. Knowing I’ve got that quality bodes well for the season ahead.”
Newcastle are ready to listen to offers for a goalkeeper, with Slovakian international Martin Dubravka unlucky to be axed after England’s Nicky Pope arrived from Burnley. He is the most likely exit in search of being a No1, with Leicester City interested after Kasper Schmeichel departure. Karl Darlow is also looking for regular football. Howe said his keeper decision was “very difficult.”
He added: “It’s too early to say. I certainly wouldn’t want anyone to leave, but I’m well aware that four (keepers) is a difficult number to carry. My wish would be to do that, but obviously we’ve got to think of the players as well. Hopefully, we’ll make the right decision. I feel I’ve got three quality keepers to pick from with Karl, Nick and Martin. Last season, Martin was excellent, and my decision to pick Nick certainly wasn’t a reflection on him, his abilities or my thoughts on him.
"I thought Nick was excellent against Forest. You could see his ability to come and collect crosses, and I thought he commanded his box very well. He didn’t have a lot to do with his hands, and that’s a good sign. There’s competition for places in that position as well, and that strength will help us through the season.”
