Eddie Howe has been talking about Bruno Guimaraes and the departures of Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon.
The Newcastle United boss speaking after a 1-1 draw against Gateshead.
With 13 first team squad players unavailable, including Bruno Guimaraes, the 20 players who got on the pitch were mostly players expected to be on the bench next season, plus under 21s.
No surprise that the United manager saw the overwhelming focus of the media on things other than today’s friendly.
Eddie Howe speaking for the first time on Bruno Guimaraes and his future, amidst the claimed Arsenal summer interest: “I have spoken to Bruno before, during and after the World Cup and we have had some really good conversations, he is just a fantastic person. I don’t know what is going to happen with his future, that is for other people to speculate about. There are conversations that I’m not part of.”
Eddie Howe going on to say: “I don’t think it is fair to compare [to Alexander Isak last summer], you have got to look at it in its own right. He is captain of our club and has been an unbelievable player through the whole time we have worked together. I speak on behalf of everyone at the club, we absolutely love him and of course everyone would love him to stay. He is due back on the 31st [July] and there is nothing to say he won’t be back.”
Eddie Howe also talking about the departures of Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon: “[It has been] painful…we don’t want to lose our best players and so losing those two [Tonali and Gordon] has been painful for us.It has been a challenging summer so far but we are always trying to do our best for the football club, both short and long-term. It is a change in model and age profile of player [that Newcastle United are signing], that’s quite obvious. I’m very supportive of what the club want to do and I have always believed in working with young players, so that fits in with my philosophy.”
Newcastle United matches:
Saturday 18 July 2026
Newcastle United 3 Darlington 0 (Willock, Osula, Neave with the goals)
Saturday 25 July 2026
Gateshead 1 Newcastle United 1 (An own goal giving United the draw)
Wednesday 29 July 2026
Bristol City v Newcastle United friendly 7.30pm
Saturday 8 August 2026
Valencia v Newcastle friendly 9pm local time (8pm UK time)
Wednesday 12 August 2026
Newcastle v Everton pre-season friendly with 5.15pm kick-off at Murrayfield.
Saturday 15 August 2026
Newcastle United v Bayer Leverkusen friendly at St James’ Park, 3pm.
Sunday 16 August 2026
Newcastle United v Strasbourg friendly at St James’ Park, 4pm.
Sunday 23 August 2026
Newcastle v Liverpool 4.30pm – United’s first Premier League match of the season
Wednesday 26 August 2026
Carabao Cup second round match, opposition and time TBC (Draw will be made in second week of August after first round matches have been played)
Saturday 29 August 2026
Spurs v Newcastle (5.30pm) Sky Sports
Tuesday 1 September 2026
Premier League transfer window closes at 11pm.
Saturday 5 September 2026
Newcastle v Bournemouth 12.30pm TNT Sports
Monday 14 September 2026
Leeds v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports
(Please note, should either club reach the Carabao Cup third round and be scheduled to play against a club participating in this season’s UEFA Champions League, the match will revert to Saturday 12 September and take place at 12:30pm)
Saturday 19 September 2026
Newcastle v Hull (3pm) No live TV