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Dan Ashworth Reflects On The Challenges Of The Next Month



Newcastle get back to work today with the players and staff returning to the training ground according to The Chronicle. The players not involved in the World Cup will train this week before jetting off to Riyadh for a 6-day traning camp on Sunday.

The squad will return after a two-week break since the 1-0 triumph over Chelsea. The goal over the next month is to hit the ground running when competitive matches resume on December 21st with the fourth round of the Carabao Cup against Bournemouth.

Sporting director Dan Ashworth has spoken about the challenges over the next month. Here is some of what Ashworth said about the mini pre-season:

“We’ve front-loaded the season a little bit, so it’s quite an intensive season for all Premier League clubs with more games than there would have been last year.

“So it’s important to give the players a bit of a break, and then it’s back into almost like a mini pre-season, if you like. So it’s back in reconditioning, some games, and getting the players ready. The majority of it will take place at the training ground.

“League One and League Two don’t have a break. Championship do have a break, although it’s less of a break. It’s not too dissimilar to pre-season, so Championship starts a week before us.

“What’s complicated it is that some of the player will be at the World Cup, and you don’t know their return date. So if they get to the final, the return date is a week before the Leicester game.

“If those players get knocked out in the group stages, the return date is week three of our break, so could have players dropping in at that stage. Some of them might have played in three of their games, some of them might not have played a minute of the World Cup. They were part of the squad. They’re coming back in different conditions.

“Whichever nations get to the final, if we have players playing for that nation, I think it’s unlikely that they’re going to be available for that cup game. It’s a unique season. It’s part of the challenge.”

This is uncharted territory the World Cup in the middle of the season. How club’s fare after the break will be largely determined on how the next month is navigated.

While Newcastle have a comprehensive plan in place with the training camp and two friendlies, the return dates of their World Cup stars is still up in the air.

Newcastle’s three England players – Callum Wilson, Nick Pope, and Kieran Trippier – are all but nailed on to advance to the knockout stages. They need to avoid losing to Wales by four goals tomorrow to advance.

Fabian Schar’s Switzerland and Bruno Guimaraes’s Brazil will face eachother today after winning their opening matches. Neither Magpie got on the pitch last Thursday but their respective nations got the job done.

Newcastle’s five World Cup players are currently in excellent shape to advance in the competition. England and Brazil are two of the favorites while Switzerland have a chance to pull an upset against the Brazilian’s this afternoon.

Which Would You Prefer Newcastle Achieve This Season?

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32 comments so far

  • Mort

    Nov 28, 2022 at 1:12 PM

    Comment #1

    Its mighty mort

    0
  • CLINT FLICK

    Nov 28, 2022 at 1:12 PM

    Comment #2

    Again!

    0
  • Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog

    Nov 28, 2022 at 1:13 PM

    Comment #3

    Pug Power

    0
  • Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog

    Nov 28, 2022 at 1:14 PM

    Comment #4

    getting old and arthritic lol

    0
  • Mort

    Nov 28, 2022 at 1:24 PM

    Comment #5

    The BBC and ITV intro themes from the 98 World Cup for me were the best ones. Also loved the FA cup ITV intro from 98. Since then all intros have been crap.
    Champions League intro theme is the best.

    0
  • G

    Nov 28, 2022 at 1:34 PM

    Comment #6

    Ghana started well. Koreans look the better side so far, but Ghana had a late resurgence against Portugal. Would love them to cause an upset.

    0
  • G

    Nov 28, 2022 at 1:36 PM

    Comment #7

    Wow, 2nd Goal for Ghana! Koreans not looking so hot all of a sudden.

    0
  • Toon fans bad

    Nov 28, 2022 at 1:36 PM

    Comment #8

    Aye. Ghana looking pretty good

    0
  • Novocastrian66

    Nov 28, 2022 at 1:42 PM

    Comment #9

    Dion Dublin and Jonathan Pearce has to be the worst commentary combination.
    They add nothing to the event.

    2
  • Mort

    Nov 28, 2022 at 2:04 PM

    Comment #10

    Never liked Jonathan Pearce. Remember channel 5 European football. Rrrrrrrroberto Di Matteo is etched on my mind forever. Annoying.

    1
  • Wor B

    Nov 28, 2022 at 2:20 PM

    Comment #11

    The trouble with these electric recliners is you keep falling…

    Zzzzz

    0
  • Wor B

    Nov 28, 2022 at 2:21 PM

    Comment #12

    Haha

    Korea just woke me up!

    0
  • ToonDarnSarf

    Nov 28, 2022 at 2:21 PM

    Comment #13

    Afternoon folks. Been playing nicely?

    1
  • Mister Tuff

    Nov 28, 2022 at 2:22 PM

    Comment #14

    Talking about the introductions/matchday build up tne woke Leftist BBC has sunk to new lows.

    Yesterday they put some climate change stuff in their build up. Nowt to do with football. As they knew most of England would be tuned in -they literally forced people to listen to their crap.
    This is really like trying to indoctrinate people with their ideas – bit like some horrible countries.

    BBC used to be the worlds top news source – not now as they try and shape the news.

    4
  • G

    Nov 28, 2022 at 2:23 PM

    Comment #15

    What a goal for Korean 2nd! Looked like a Les Ferdinand header that one

    0
  • Romford mag

    Nov 28, 2022 at 2:30 PM

    Comment #16

    Both games today have been good

    2
  • cleveleysbob

    Nov 28, 2022 at 2:35 PM

    Comment #17

    11 goals and 2nd match not yet finished!! Brilliant. 🙂

    2
  • cleveleysbob

    Nov 28, 2022 at 2:40 PM

    Comment #18

    MrT saw a good one yesterday.

    A load of scientists were praising the plant yields achieved by higher amounts of CO2 in atmosphere. The planet is getting greener and food production levels rising.

    Complete opposite of the agenda driven narrative on Climate Change, which in itself is their biggest climb down. They had to stop using Global warming after it was proved to be cyclical. So now it’s Climate Change, which can’t be disproved as the Climate is always changing. 😆

    2
  • Novocastrian66

    Nov 28, 2022 at 2:44 PM

    Comment #19

    I’m now switching off at half time because of the poor standard of the coverage.
    I don’t want to watch Souness and Keane arguing or Joe Cole trying to string a sentence together.
    Also why do we have to have so many non British pundits?

    2
  • ToonDarnSarf

    Nov 28, 2022 at 2:44 PM

    Comment #20

    cleveleysbob – why are you getting involved in a discussion like this knowing that people will want to contradict you and start a climate change discussion on a Toon blog?

    3
  • Novocastrian66

    Nov 28, 2022 at 2:45 PM

    Comment #21

    The football has been excellent though.

    1
  • Romford mag

    Nov 28, 2022 at 2:47 PM

    Comment #22

    Bruno on the bench again

    0
  • cleveleysbob

    Nov 28, 2022 at 2:49 PM

    Comment #23

    TDS merely stating a point of view to a note from MrT. You can always ignore it. 😉

    2
  • Romford mag

    Nov 28, 2022 at 2:50 PM

    Comment #24

    I doubt that very much ! 😆

    7
  • Wor B

    Nov 28, 2022 at 2:52 PM

    Comment #25

    I was a reclining sofa denier up to about 3 hours ago.

    Total convert now!

    Gonna watch recordings of the moon landings later.

    😆

    4
  • cleveleysbob

    Nov 28, 2022 at 2:52 PM

    Comment #26

    ROM, I know, he was the cast iron cert to answer me. 😆

    6
  • cleveleysbob

    Nov 28, 2022 at 2:55 PM

    Comment #27

    Wor B, the problem with recliners is that you never want to get off them! I’m already a couch potato without a recliner, I’d be the very epitome of an “unmovable object” if I had one. 😆

    1
  • cleveleysbob

    Nov 28, 2022 at 2:57 PM

    Comment #28

    Reet a bit of telly calls before the Brazil game (see what I mean) – not good for the waistline 😀

    1
  • Wor B

    Nov 28, 2022 at 3:00 PM

    Comment #29

    Cbob

    I know, a couple of hours in, and I’m already thinking about selling my golf clubs.

    😮

    2
  • Romford mag

    Nov 28, 2022 at 3:01 PM

    Comment #30

    That’s alright , you can still play the 19th without clubs ! 😉

    2
  • dazzler

    Nov 28, 2022 at 3:02 PM

    Comment #31

    Change is not the same as cyclical fluctuations, just saying.

    0
  • Toon fans bad

    Nov 28, 2022 at 3:14 PM

    Comment #32

    Cleverleys,

    I concur. The Modern Grand Solar Minimum has already started in 2020 pal.

    0


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