Eddie Howe admits that Newcastle United’s post-season trip to Australia is far from ideal “from a physical perspective” following an exhausting campaign.
However, the head coach accepts that sometimes the squad and coaching staff are required to undertake such tasks “with the best attitude” when they are deemed to be “in the best interests” of the club.
Just three days after the conclusion of the campaign, one which has been defined by Newcastle’s injuries, Howe’s side will take on Tottenham Hotspur at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 22 in a friendly. There is then a second exhibition match against the A-League All Star team at Marvel Stadium on May 24.
The trip is motivated by Newcastle’s need to increase their commercial revenue — with the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) restricting their spending capacity until their income grows — and to gain more exposure in Australasia, as they aim to expand their appeal globally.
“I don’t think it’s something that, being honest, in my position you’re saying, ‘I want to go’,” Howe said, when asked about his view on the Australia trip at his pre-Fulham press conference on Friday. “But I understand the club’s position and we will back it if the club say we’re going.”
Newcastle will play Tottenham in Melbourne (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Several members of Newcastle’s first-team squad — including Bruno Guimaraes, Miguel Almiron, Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar and Martin Dubravka — are expected to be involved in the Copa America and European Championships this summer.
Yet their workload is only set to be increased further, with senior players believed to be expected to make the trip and prioritise Newcastle’s friendlies before joining up with any national sides for pre-tournament camps or warm-up matches.
“I think there’s different trains of thought here,” Howe said about the logic behind the trip. “We have to act in the best interests of the football club and sometimes we’re told to do certain things, and you do that with the best interests of the club at heart.
“This is something that probably from a physical perspective, after a long season, we probably, being honest, wouldn’t want to do. But we respect the club and we respect the demands that the club is moving forward very, very quickly and we have to keep apace with everything that the club wants to do.
“So when asked to do such things, we will do it with the best attitude we can.”
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(Stu Forster/Getty Images)
