Newcastle United reveal eight impressive upgrades to…

Newcastle United reveal eight impressive upgrades to revamped training centre

Newcastle United's revamped Training Centre is ready for pre-season after a whirlwind 12 months of reconstruction at Benton.

The North Tyneside HQ has resembled a building site throughout the season but the club yesterday released overhead shots of the club's base yesterday with former striker Shola Ameobi presenting an MTV Cribs style tour of the improved building.

It means that from this summer, new signings will see an up to date training ground from the plush new reception right on to the training pitches.

Here's a breakdown of what has been improved so far:

A new improved reception area to greet visitors and new signings

The old reception area has been turned into offices and a more plush entrance to the training ground with impressive glass doors is now in place. This will be the first thing any visitors to Benton see and will be the opening impression to potential new signings and player agents.

There's also a facial recognition-style security system which opens the doors to the rest of the training ground for players. Which famous faces will be uploaded next ahead of a busy summer?

An extended canteen and dining area

The original canteen which featured on the 2002 BBC documentary Just Call Me Bobby featuring Sir Bobby Robson and Gary Lineker has gone. Back then players joked with the former England boss about wanting to leave the training ground banging knives and forks off the table to gesture they were ready to go, but a new dining area offers the current crop more space.

With updated drinks machines, fridges and fixtures and fittings around the room players can enjoy much better light and TV screens to catch up on latest training info and sporting news. As for Eddie Howe's wheel of fortune fine system, that's going nowhere!

Eddie Howe's war room

Just like Arsenal and Man City, Newcastle now have an improved presentation area to use for pre-game meetings and post-match debriefs. It's here that players will go over what went right, and what went wrong in high octance matches.

With plush club crested seating in the auditorium, it makes for a professional feel. And puts Newcastle up there with some of the bigger guns in the top-flight.

Improved changing rooms

At one stage there were two separate changing rooms at Newcastle's training ground and it was a much tighter space. However, the new look changing rooms offers more space, better lighting and each player's own locker and seat.

Hydrotherapy and plunge pools

Arguably the most impressive feature of the new training ground is the pool area. It's certainly a far cry from the inflatable paddling pools that once went viral on social media.

This will aid player recovery after matches and help those with knocks get back in action quicker. With some rapid turnarounds needed next season with Champions League fixtures ahead, this could be vital.

Cryotherapy unit

Players will take the plunge into tanks and dip below temperatures of minus 100 in a newly constructed cryotherapy area. The ice baths are another way of providing quicker recovery after games.

This area was referenced by Bruno Guimaraes last season as he recovered from ankle problems.

Outdoor relaxation area

This has been extended and is ideal for players to unwind a little after training. With tables and chairs outside, players can enjoy the warmer summer weather although it could be a bit chilly when the brutal Tyneside winter kicks in!

Head tennis area and TEQ ball tables

Kevin Keegan and Terry McDermott would have loved this area after their famous battles back in the day. This is outside the canteen on a grass area where players can warm up or warm down.

There are four TEQ ball tables (which retail at £3,000) where players showcase their skills. Joelinton and Bruno are said to be the masters at this.