Matthias Jaissle has now been in the Newcastle United Head Coach role for less than seven weeks.
The former Al-Ahli boss appointed by NUFC on 5 August 2026.
Matthias Jaissle starting work only 18 days ahead of the Newcastle United season kicking off at home to Liverpool.
Forty-five days after signing on at St James’ Park, the Head Coach oversaw his seventh competitive match.
Newcastle United defeating Hull City to make it seven games played under Matthias Jaissle, with four wins, two draws and just the one defeat so far.
This first section of the 2026/27 season was always going to be a huge challenge for a new look Newcastle United and especially the new Head Coach.
Throughout these early matches I have often heard fans saying that it is a case of getting through to this international break and then Matthias Jaissle will have 23 days in between matches, a chance before Coventry to have a major reset and revamp, work with his players at the training ground and take things up another level without a busy schedule of competitive matches constantly interrupting…
I want you to consider these three lists of Newcastle United players:
NUFC players who were missing for the Hull City match due to injury:
Dan Burn – Ankle/foot
Joelinton – Thigh
Jacob Ramsey – Thigh
William Osula – Ankle
Nico Gonzalez – Concussion
Ewen Jaouen – Ankle
Anthony Elanga -Hamstring
Tino Livramento – Unknwown
Amar Dedic – Hamstring
Newcastle United first team squad players away on international duty:
Aladji Bamba (France U21s)
Bazoumana Toure (Ivory Coast)
Ewen Jaouen (France U21s)
Lewis Hall (England)
Lewis Miley (England U21s)
Lukas Hornicek (Czech Republic)
Malick Thiaw (Germany)
Matias Fernandez-Pardo (Belgium)
Sean Steur (Netherlands U21s)
Yoane Wissa (DR Congo)
Newcastle United players who don’t appear on either of these two lists above:
Nick Pope
Mark Gillespie
Sven Botman
Fabian Schar
Joe Willock
Jacob Murphy
Harvey Barnes
So as things stand, Matthias Jaissle doing his reset and revamp during these 23 days between Hull at home and Coventry away, currently the players he has to work with are the third and fourth choice keepers plus a five-a-side team of outfield players.
I think this tells us a few things.
Newcastle United don’t have the biggest Premier League squad.
Newcastle United have a lot of injuries.
Newcastle United have a fair few players away on international duty.
The opportunity for Matthias Jaissle to work throughout the international break with a sizeable number of his first team squad is in reality a bit of a mirage.
I know that no doubt this week Matthias Jaissle, his coaching staff and his players (not on international duty) will be having some well deserved down time. A chance to recharge the batteries.
However, even next week, exactly how many Newcastle United first team squad players will the Head Coach have to work with?
Checking out their international match schedules, you even have a fair few Newcastle players who don’t have the final games of this ‘break’ with their countries until Tuesday 6 October, the likes of Sean Steur, Aladji Bamba, Ewen Jaouen, Lewis Miley, Lukas Hornicek and Lewis Hall. So the earliest any of those could be back in training with the Newcastle United first team squad would be Wednesday 7 October, though more likely Thursday 8 October.
For once you are almost grateful for a Monday night match that gives Matthias Jaissle and his Newcastle United players some bonus time to prepare.
Matthias Jaissle was forced to bring in five young players into the matchday squad for the Hull game, players who have never played a single minute of first team football. There are even three of those five off on international duty:
Kyran Thompson (England U18s)
Michael Mills (England U18s)
Vakhtang Salia (Georgia U21s)
I think the biggest benefit by far, hopefully, of this 23 days wait for the next game, is the chance to get a number of players fully recovered from their injuries and available once again.
Any significant group training together for the Newcastle United squad overall with simply be a bonus.