Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe said the 1-1 draw with Gateshead provided a valuable workout for his squad as preparations continue ahead of the new Premier League season, which begins in 27 days with a high-profile home fixture against Liverpool.
Fitness and sharpness the priorities
Howe, speaking to club media after the friendly, stressed that the match served its purpose at this stage in pre-season. He judged the game a credible examination of his players’ conditioning and match-readiness while noting there were areas that can be improved.
“I actually thought it was a good game. A good test. I always say at this stage of pre-season I like us to come into games slightly fatigued, due to the work schedule that they have been through.”
He said Newcastle largely controlled the contest but were occasionally undone by long deliveries and a deflected free-kick that led to Gateshead’s goal. The equaliser came when a cross from Lewis Hall was turned into his own net by a Gateshead defender.
What Howe wants from the coming weeks
Howe identified two clear priorities for the remainder of pre-season: bolstering physical fitness and sharpening attacking play. While he felt fitness levels were acceptable, he said the team lacked some of the incisiveness the coaching staff are seeking.
- Fitness: positive signs, with players responding to pre-season workload.
- Sharpness: needs improvement — more cutting edge in the final third required.
- Match rhythm: additional friendlies scheduled ahead of the competitive season.
Howe referenced the club’s recent behind-closed-doors 3-0 win over Darlington and said there are five more pre-season friendlies to come, beginning with a midweek match against Bristol City.
| Fixture context | Details |
|---|---|
| Recent matches | 3-0 vs Darlington (behind closed doors); 1-1 vs Gateshead |
| Next scheduled opponents | Bristol City then further friendlies ahead of season start |
| Competitive opener | Home to Liverpool on Sunday 23 August |
Howe was measured in his summary: while pleased with some aspects of how his side looked, he expects increased production in front of goal as the team progresses through their training programme.
“We want to build our fitness and sharpness... I would like us to create more and score more, but I think that will come as we start to go into that work. But I’m relatively pleased.”
For Gateshead supporters the friendly offered a memorable evening: their free-kick produced a fortunate deflection to open the scoring and they held out against a top-flight side for large periods. For Newcastle, the match was another step in a carefully managed build-up to a demanding opening fixture list.
As attention turns to the five remaining pre-season outings, the principal questions for supporters in Gateshead and across the region will be whether match sharpness and attacking fluency improve in time for the August kick-off.
