Newcastle were beaten 1-0 by a K-League XI at the Suwon World Cup Stadium in South Korea, as their summer of woe should little sign of easing.
A defeat and a major injury were two further blows to Eddie Howe as the uncertainty over Alexander Isak’s future hangs over the club.
The only goal was scored by Kim Jin-kyu for the hosts as they outshot Howe’s side 15 to 13.
Our chief football reporter CRAIG HOPE was in attendance in Suwon, and here are his five big takeaways…
1. We know they need a striker – here’s their latest £40m target
We knew this already, but another pre-season game in which Newcastle failed to score and win without Alexander Isak brought home still further the need for a new striker, if not two!
And here is a new name I can bring you. Myself and my Mail Sport colleague Simon Jones are working around the clock on transfers (quite literally given the time difference) and we understand Newcastle have made an informal enquiry for Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz. No high-level talks have taken place, but intermediaries have been involved in discussions and a fee of £40million mooted.
Meanwhile, Newcastle are continuing to pursue deals for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Brentford’s Yoane Wissa. However, the feeling inside the club is that Sesko is likely to go to Manchester United, which would be a huge frustration given they are so keen on the Slovenian.
That, though, could potentially pave the way for a move for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, who is on Newcastle’s shortlist. So is Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson, but several others are ahead of him at present.
Rodrigo Muniz (top) is the latest target on Newcastle’s radar, with a fee of £40million being discussed
2. A concerning lack of energy
There is huge mitigation, of course. Firstly, the Suwon World Cup Stadium would make most UK greenhouses feel like an igloo.
Even the locals were saying this was unusually hot, and the government weather warning pinging on our phones confirmed as much. Be careful with exercise, it said, and so Newcastle were! Secondly, the pitch wasn’t great, a patchwork quilt of parched grass.
But… Newcastle weren’t great, either. This is a third straight defeat in pre-season and it was not just energy levels that were low. They were low on inspiration and imagination.
Again, let us not make judgment, but I think Howe would have hoped to see more from what was a strong enough XI, including likely Premier League starters Nick Pope, Tino Livramento, Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga.
They had a few half chances, but the Koreans had more and were deserved winners.
Anthony Elanga was the main shining light for Newcastle despite the 1-0 defeat in Suwon
3. Elanga shines – but gets no support
Of those names above, Elanga was most definitely the pick, at least early on. The speed of his movement, on and off the ball, really catches the eye. There is no shortage of confidence, either.
What there does seem to be a shortage of, however, is a connection with those around him. On a couple of occasions he played crisp, early passes and his team-mates were flat-footed.
But Elanga was a positive for Howe, who needs all the plusses he can get right now!
4. Snoozing Suwon gets some Park life
The only player who perhaps upstaged Elanga was Seung-Soo Park, the 18-year-old Korean who came on for his Newcastle debut
The only player who perhaps upstaged Elanga was Seung-Soo Park, the 18-year-old Korean who came on for his Newcastle debut.
He nearly sent this stadium into orbit when the home hero’s first involvement took out three men before winning a corner. He was at it again soon after, jinking in and out and away from opponents.
So low had the excitement levels been, you were urging his senior comrades to just give him the ball!
At full time, Kieran Trippier (an unused sub) made straight for Park and gave him a well deserved arm around the shoulder. I’d like to see more of him this pre-season, for sure.
Joe Willock was stretchered off with what looked like a serious ankle injury
5. Get well soon, Joe
But the night did end on a real sour note, with Joe Willock stretchered off late on. He made a challenge and immediately signalled to the dugout, clutching the back of his ankle. Willock has a history of achilles problems and it looked like a similar problem.
What a shame that would be for a player dogged by injury in recent seasons. It could also add a midfielder to Newcastle’s summer wish-list…
