Your latest Newcastle United headlines for September 29.
Mitrovic feature
Aleksandar Mitrovic may have been pictured leaving the field with a bandaged right foot, after scoring his 50th goal for Serbia, but the Fulham striker will be desperate to play against Newcastle United on Saturday. It won't have escaped Mitrovic's attention, after all, that he has never scored against his former side and Newcastle could yet face a player at the very peak of his powers - four years after leaving the club for good.
Mitrovic has always been prolific for Serbia and when lining up in the Championship for Fulham, but what has been striking this season is how the 28-year-old has taken that form into the Premier League. After recording the highest scoring English league campaign in history last season - scoring 43 in 44 games for Fulham in the second-tier - Mitrovic has looked the part in the top-flight as well.
Mitrovic started the current campaign with a double on the opening day against Liverpool and the number nine has scored in all but two of Fulham's league games this season after also finding the back of the net against Brentford, Arsenal, Brighton and Spurs. In fact, ahead of facing Newcastle, Mitrovic is already closing in on the nine goals he scored for the Magpies in his first season in England.
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So much has changed since those days at Newcastle that none of Mitrovic's former team-mates are likely to even be in the visitors' starting line-up at Craven Cottage on Saturday. Among those who are still in touch with Mitrovic, though, is former Newcastle midfielder Mo Diame, who is in no doubt that the Serbia international will do 'everything to score' if he is fit to play. However, you soon understand why Diame predicted that Mitrovic 'probably' won't celebrate if he does get on the scoresheet.
You can read the full story here.
Al-Rumayyan on PIF strategy change
Yasir Al-Rumayyan has explained how the strategy of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) changed - which ultimately paved the way for Newcastle United's takeover many years later.
The PIF was originally established by royal decree in 1971 as a fairly low-key, internal investment fund that held government stakes in Saudi companies. However, in 2008, the PIF announced the launch of a sovereign wealth fund to invest in global assets.
The PIF was later given the freedom to invest without the approval of the Council of Ministers - reporting instead to the Economic and Development Affairs Council chaired by Prince Mohammed bin Salman - and Al Rumayyan went on to be appointed as governor of the fund. In an effort to diversify, the PIF has since invested in a host of Western companies, including Uber, Disney, Facebook and Boeing, amassing around $608bn in assets in the process.
Speaking at the latest Future Investment Initiative Institute conference, Al-Rumayyan briefly touched on this shift in strategy, which changed the course of Newcastle's history nearly a year ago after the PIF bought an 80% stake in the club after forming a consortium with Amanda Staveley, Mehrdad Ghodoussi and Jamie Reuben.
You can read the full story here.
Neville on 'sportswashing'
Gary Neville insists Newcastle United's owners should be held to 'account' when pressed on the human rights concerns surrounding Saudi Arabia. The Sky Sports pundit debated the topic of sportswashing at length in an interview ahead of the release of his book 'The People's Game: A View from a Front Seat in Football'.
Neville and fellow pundit Jamie Carragher have previously discussed the controversial subject of club ownership in the Premier League in the wake of the sanctions placed upon Chelsea as a result of former owner Roman Abramovich. The pair believe managers such as Eddie Howe and Pep Guardiola will have to face up to tough questions going forwards due to the identity of their respective club's owners.
Newcastle United's takeover last October provoked a wave of controversy due to the majority stake of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). Amnesty International were among many to denounce the move as 'sportswashing', and later called upon the Premier League to revise their owners' and directors' test.
Discussing 'sportwashing' in football more widely with the World Cup in Qatar due to kick-off in two months' time, Neville outlined his view that he would work with countries or organisations rather than 'sit on the other side of the fence and throw stones at each other'. The former Manchester United defender was then asked how the ownership of Newcastle will help LGBT rights in Saudi Arabia.
You can read the full story here.
Training ground update
Newcastle United players hope to return to a near enough completed training ground in the new year with the face of the Magpies' North Tyneside HQ changing at a rapid rate.
The new look complex at Benton has been taking shape quickly since planning permission was first granted back in June. Eddie Howe and his staff have worked around the construction site with contractors rubbing shoulders with players as they arrive for work at the club's North Tyneside base.
United's new owners still plan to build a new complex with Gosforth Park's Parklands believed to be a contender for the team's new base. Once complete it will be the home for the men's senior team, the women's team and the club's Academy. Chronicle Live reported first in March that Gosforth Park was under consideration with plans since emerging for that particular site.
For now though, Newcastle remain at Darsley Park where work is being done to improve the area Eddie Howe and his players have to work with. Work is ongoing to bring hydrotherapy and plunge pools; improved changing rooms; new doctor and physio rooms; an updated presentation room; a modern players' lounge; and an extended dining area.
You can read the full story here.
Solano's academy aim
Nobby Solano has opened up his own Academy in Peru - and would love to find the next Little Maestro for Newcastle United.
Little Maestro was the nickname handed to a young Solano at Boca Juniors by Diego Maradona no less, but now, after seven years of coaching with the Peru national team behind him, the ex-Newcastle star has started the search for new blood in his home country. Solano has been holding sessions with kids in Lima and says he will pass on any exciting discoveries to United.
Solano told Chronicle Live: "After working with the national team at the World Cup and Copa America, I made a decision to start my own Academy. "I enjoy working with youngsters and helping develop talent. There is a lot of hidden talent in Peru but they need to help to be discovered. That is my aim.
You can read the full story here.
Injury latest
Ryan Fraser has boosted his match fitness over the international break after an impressive fortnight with Scotland after a recall.
The former AFC Bournemouth winger played a big part in helping Scotland secure promotion to Group A in the UEFA Nations League with two assists across three games, and significantly, as far as Howe is concerned, putting in 72 minutes against Ukraine in the 0-0 draw that booked a guaranteed Euro 2024 play-off spot.
Fraser did shake off a slight illness to star in the game that was played on neutral territory against Ukraine but his presence should boost Howe. Sweden international Alexander Isak is expected to be ruled out while it is still unclear whether Allan Saint-Maximin will make the bench.
With Callum Wilson hoping to return from a hamstring problem, and with other big hitters missing, Howe would ideally love to have his former Bournemouth duo in Wilson and Fraser in his three-pronged attack at Craven Cottage.
You can read the full story here.
O'Riley on transfer interest
Celtic playmaker Matt O'Riley has admitted he is focused on life at Parkhead - despite disclosing transfer interest from Newcastle United. The Magpies are said to have an interest in the midfielder as they look to beef up their back-up options.
Newcastle scouts were in the stands for Denmark Under-21s' clash with Croatia with London-born O'Riley on show in a Euorpean Championship play-off. The former MK Dons midfielder has five assists in seven Scottish Premiership matches for Celtic this season.
You can read the full story here.
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