Newcastle signed off from pre-season with a 2-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid at St James’ Park.
The Spaniards scored both of their goals in the second half through Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann.
It makes it zero wins from six this summer for the Magpies, and our chief football reporter, CRAIG HOPE, was there to bring you his big five takeaways…
Newcastle rounded off pre-season with a 2-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid at St James’ Park
Goals from Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann made it zero wins from six for the Magpies
The result would have given Eddie Howe food for thought a week out for the new campaign
Gordon injury scare
Another pre-season defeat for Newcastle and a sixth game without a win, but the biggest talking point on full-time was the late withdrawal of Anthony Gordon.
The England star is currently Eddie Howe’s first pick as striker, in the continued absence of want-away Alexander Isak.
But Gordon fell to the turf with what looked like a muscle problem and received treatment for a good couple of minutes before being replaced. He was able to walk, albeit gingerly, to the touchline, where he exited straight down the tunnel with a physio.
It is a major concern for Howe and the player, who has spoken of his desire to hit the ground running this season after a turbulent summer 12 months ago.
Anthony Gordon was forced off with a late injury, leaving Howe’s options up top threadbare
Howe needs new No 9
More news is awaited on Gordon’s injury but, if his withdrawal proves to be precautionary, we got to see the front three that will kick off the season for Newcastle, even if that unit is made up of three wingers. Anthony Elanga and Harvey Barnes were in their natural positions out wide, with Gordon operating as striker.
Pace, endeavour, danger, you can tick all of those boxes. But did they really look like scoring? Not really. Certainly not in the way the team did with Isak through the middle. Now that may feel like stating the obvious, but the obvious fact is that Newcastle need a striker.
There is something about the balance of the side that does not feel right without one, and that was the case when Isak was missing last season. The pity for Gordon is that he has looked razor sharp this summer, and you wonder how effective he would be in his favoured left-wing berth.
Elanga showed his pace on several occasions, beating his man on the right flank, but not enough came from it. There is work to do for Newcastle when it comes to scoring goals, you feel. It may be that the problem is only solved by signing those specialist centre-forwards.
There was pace and endeavour across the front three, but they never looked like scoring
They certainly didn’t threaten in the way the team did with Alexander Isak leading the line
Deal agreed for defender
There was some good news off the pitch for Newcastle, with a deal for Milan defender Malick Thiaw nearing completion. The clubs have agreed a package of around £34.3million and the German is due on Tyneside for a medical.
Thiaw will provide competition at the heart of the defence, taking their stable to five. Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles started here, after last season’s first-choice pairing Fabian Schar and Dan Burn played against Espanyol on Friday night.
Long term, Newcastle will see Thiaw, 24, as the right-sided replacement for Schar, who turns 34 in December. His expected arrival will finally bring an end to links with Marc Guehi, the Crystal Palace defender who was the subject of a summer-long pursuit 12 months ago.
But the question supporters were asking on full-time was… has 6ft 4in Thiaw ever deputised as a striker?
But there was some good news, with AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw set to join for £34.3m
Imperious Tonali superb again
Sandro Tonali looked at his athletic and technical best, and Newcastle will need him to be. The midfielder was my pick as the team’s player of the season last time around. Without a doubt, for me, the campaign hinged on the Italian being moved to a No.6 position.
That was the domain he populated here and, even though up against top opposition, Tonali still looked imperious, the best midfielder on the pitch.
Joelinton, too, looked strong, on the back of a knee injury. And when his fellow Brazilian Bruno Guimaraes returns for the season opener at Aston Villa next weekend, the midfield band will be back together. And how Howe must hope they are in tune, given the difficulties of recent weeks, on and off the pitch.
Sandro Tonali looked at his athletic and technical best and his side need him to stay that way
Tripper still a class act
Kieran Trippier, against his former club, was another who looked more than ready for the new campaign.
It was far from guaranteed he would still be at the club coming out of last season, but it now appears certain he will start the campaign at right back.
Trippier remains a class act and one of the club’s greatest signings – he will be a big player for them during the early weeks of a season that could well be a little bit bumpy.
