This may be uncharted territory for the majority of Newcastle United players and staff, but coach analyst Mark Leyland has been here before. Many times, in fact.
Leyland was part of Liverpool's backroom team when Jurgen Klopp's side not only qualified for the Champions League on a number of occasions, but, also, when his boyhood club lifted Old Big Ears itself in 2019. In fact, Leyland was Liverpool's head of post-match and elite player development analysis when the Reds won the Premier League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup before he got the call from Eddie Howe in 2021.
Newcastle were in a very different situation at the time, as the Magpies fought to stay up, but Howe's side are now flying in third place in Leyland's final season at the club before he starts work at the City Football Group. ChronicleLive understands Leyland will be 'managing the methodology' across Man City's global conglomerate to ensure 'consistency in systems and approaches'.
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However, before he even thinks about his next challenge, Leyland is desperate to help Newcastle get over the line as the black-and-whites bid to finish in the top four for the first time in 20 years.
"Mark is a top lad with a top attitude so he is fully committed here," Howe told ChronicleLive. "I'm delighted with his contribution."
Anyone who witnessed how animated Leyland was in the stands during the first half of Newcastle's game against Man City at the Etihad last month could tell you about that commitment. There was no question of where Leyland's loyalties lied that day and there is a reason why Howe was so keen to bring this trusted figure back into his inner circle, which has rarely expanded over the years.
Howe and Leyland previously worked together at Burnley and while it was only a brief spell, the pair left their mark on one another. Howe, for instance, never forgot how Leyland essentially manned Burnley's one-man analysis department with his detailed live game, opposition and post-match reports, and the pair remained in touch as their careers developed elsewhere.
Just as Howe flourished at Bournemouth, Leyland grew at Liverpool, where he helped break down footage of games and built a database of stats and clips to be fed back to the players. It was Leyland, for instance, who would discuss the first-half clips to be used with Liverpool assistant Peter Krawietz in the dressing room just a few minutes before half-time and the most relevant footage would be shown to manager Jurgen Klopp, who would then pass the message on to his players at the break.
Leyland and Liverpool's analysts even put together a video for Liverpool's ball boys about how they could be the 12th man before the Reds' Champions League semi-final second-leg against Barcelona in 2019. Having noticed how Barcelona's ball boys helped the Catalan giants slow the game down during a 3-0 win in the first-leg, Liverpool's analysts asked their ball boys to do the opposite for the return fixture at Anfield. Fifteen-year-old Oakley Cannonier duly caught Barcelona off guard in the build-up to Liverpool's fourth goal when he threw the ball to Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose quick-thinking from a corner set up Divock Origi's aggregate winner to cap a remarkable comeback.
Those contributions did not go unnoticed. Howe visited Liverpool on a fact-finding mission during his time out of the game and there were murmurings that the 45-year-old and Leyland could reunite at Celtic before they eventually linked up at Newcastle in December, 2021.
Newcastle were second from bottom at the time and Liverpool were a point off top spot yet it was telling that Leyland was prepared to swap clubs and, reluctantly, leave behind his young family on Merseyside. Those ties have played their part in Leyland's decision to leave Newcastle to return to the North West but, as far as best friend David Raven is concerned, this has been an experience that the Scouser 'will never forget'.
"It's taken him on and moved him on as a coach and as a person," he told ChronicleLive. "Mark always knew it would be tough for him and family in the end has become the issue for him to pack up and move back, but he will look back and think Newcastle was probably one of the best learning curves he has had. He was out of his comfort zone and, when you are out of your comfort zone, you tend to learn more."
Getting out of his comfort zone and out onto the grass was something Leyland wanted to do after hitting a glass ceiling at Liverpool following eight-and-a-half years at his boyhood club. Leyland has assisted with the implementation of training and coaching at Newcastle and also brought a sharp eye to the club, whether it is breaking down information for Howe on his own team and the opposition; preparing clips while sitting alongside assistant boss Graeme Jones in the stands during the first half of games; or having the personable skills to be able to give constructive criticism effectively to players during analysis sessions.
Leyland has ultimately played an 'integral' role in Newcastle's transformation into a consistent, high-pressing outfit as part of a well-oiled team behind the scenes, who all know their jobs. Indeed, it was rather telling that Leyland was among those photographed alongside Howe when the Newcastle boss won his first manager of the month award at the club in February last year.
Even the well-placed Klopp has recognised the impact Leyland has made - going as far as to say that 'for sure he has played a big part' at Newcastle - after the Liverpool boss was previously among those who gave his former colleague a round of applause on his final day at the club's training ground. A similar farewell reception at Benton may soon be on the cards.
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