Newcastle United have released a fresh batch of photos from their pre-season training camp.
Steve Bruce’s players are gearing up Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate campus and getting ready for their first games against York City and Harrogate Town.
It will be a good opportunity for players to get back into the swing of things, and perhaps give the manager something to think about.
Most of the team are there now and interestingly, Freddie Woodman has now joined up with his teammates.
The 24-year-old had originally not been included by Bruce for the camp.
Some had wondered why, and the reason became clear yesterday.
Woodman had actually been set to join Bournemouth on loan.
But an injury to Martin Dubravka scuppered it, with the Slovakian set to undergo surgery on his foot.
That particular move is now in some doubt.
Another player pictured for the first time this pre-season was Matty Longstaff.
The midfielder, who was only used five times in 2020/21 by Bruce, has not been seen since the players came back together.
No reason has been given for his absence.
Both players need pre-season involvement
Bruce has simply got to get these two players heavily involved in pre-season.
Woodman is a very talented goalkeeper, and Dubravka needing surgery may now be his window of opportunity – although Karl Darlow may have something to say about it.
And Longstaff really needs some chances.
It was criminal how little he featured last season.
He may as well have been loaned out. If it looks as if he isn’t going to get decent minutes with Newcastle this term then a loan move is a must.
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