While it has not been the most convincing summer for Newcastle United in the transfer market, there are new signings to bed in ahead of the new season.
Newcastle may not yet have landed the centre-back or right-winger they reportedly desire right now but Eddie Howe does have fresh options to deploy, even if not all too many of them significantly improve his first-team.
Lloyd Kelly is perhaps the only one who could start in the Premier League opener at home to Southampton next week, while there is hope that young striker William Osula will be able to develop nicely.
Still, the other new faces come in goal, where Nick Pope is the undisputed No.1.
Odysseas Vlachodimos got a run out in Japan, while one-cap England international and now veteran John Ruddy made his bow against Girona on Friday night.
Nick Pope responds as John Ruddy makes Newcastle debut
Howe’s side ran out 4-0 winners against the Spanish outfit at St James’ Park, with Sean Longstaff scoring twice and both Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy getting on the scoresheet.
Ruddy came on for Pope towards the closing stages and took to Instagram after the game to write: “Thanks for the welcome! Some place to play footie!”
Pope was among a number of his teammates to respond, writing: “JR” with a fire emoji.
John Ruddy may not play again for Newcastle
Ruddy was a signing out of left-field, brought in to try and drive standards in training using his wealth of experience, as well as replace Loris Karius as third-choice.
All of that is reasonably logical even if Newcastle do have a ridiculous amount of goalkeepers in their squad (5), albeit Martin Dubravaka could still leave.
Still, that brief cameo against Girona may be the only chance Newcastle fans get to see him. There seemingly isn’t much of a plan for him to be involved in the first-team this season and, barring an injury crisis, it does not look at all likely…
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