Newcastle United will be back to work later this week as they undergo testing ahead of the start of pre-season training next week.
Eddie Howe got his wish on at least summer signing with Sandro Tonali through the door in time for the bulk of summer work. After his involvement with Italy Under-21s at the European Championships it remains to be seen when his debut bow will come. With England Under-21 star Anthony Gordon still involved at the Euros with the Three Lions, the Scouser is set to join up later after a short break but expected to be involved for the US tour.
The early part of pre-season will see Eddie Howe assess a clutch of his younger stars with Lewis Miley and Elliot Anderson likely to be in the frame for roles in the first couple of friendly matches against Gateshead and Glasgow Rangers. For others, it will be a case of trying to catch the manager's eye.
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There are players who will have a point to prove in pre-season not least those who have spent the summer watching on as transfer targets in their position have been heavily linked with the club. Left-back Matt Targett will be looking to use the pre-season matches, which includes tough games in the States against Aston Villa, Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion, to stake his claim.
Emil Krafth is fit again after a knee injury and will be due minutes and Paul Dummett is expected to be back with an announcement on his new deal understood to be "close". After the arrival of Tonali, the midfield battle speaks for itself as the Italian, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff and Anderson all fight for a spot.
Howe is light on the ground in terms of strikers so it will be a case of carefully getting minutes into the legs of Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak with both suffering injuries at times last year. All in all, Newcastle stars will be raring to go for pre-season.
There is no uncertainty in the air on Tyneside these days. Players know they need to be fighting fit to play a part in what is shaping up to be a bright future.
