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These 9 Newcastle players missing from Newcastle squad at Bradford – Writing on the wall

7 years ago
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Rafa Benitez once again named 22 Newcastle players for the third friendly of NUFC’s pre-season schedule.

Newcastle taking on Bradford on Wednesday night with a 7.30pm kick-off, these were the first team and subs.

Elliot, Yedlin, Lejeune, Clark, Dummett, Atsu, Shelvey (c), Hayden, Ritchie, Pérez, Gayle

and the Subs:

Woodman, Gámez, Manquillo, Mbemba, Saivet, Colback, Diamé, Aarons, Murphy, De Jong, Mitrović

It looks clear that there has been a bit of a shake down for what is Newcastle’s final domestic away friendly.

After tonight there are only three more friendlies, with surely only those potentially playing a part this coming season, being on the plane to Germany where the next two friendlies will take place.

So who is missing at Bradford and looking like they are definitely beyond the fringes of the squad Rafa Benitez wants for next season?

I make it these nine established (some more than others) players who have been left behind:

Tim Krul, Karl Darlow, Achraaf Lazaar, Massadio Haidara, Jamaal Lascelles, Grant Hanley, Curtis Good, Jamie Sterry, Emmanuel Riviere

Jamie Sterry is  still recovering from injury but worrying to see Jamaal Lascelles missing for the second game in a row. Rafa Benitez confirmed he missed Preston with a knock but he was confident it wasn’t a problem. Hopefully he will be involved in Germany.

Curtis Good has been ignored by Rafa Benitez throughout pre-season and this week has seen claims he is set for a move to Holland.

This leaves us with six senior players who look definitely surplus to Rafa’s first team squad.

The Chronicle reported earlier today that Riviere, Krul and Lazaar (and Saivet) were training with the kids, whilst also no surprise to see Hanley, Haidara and Darlow missing as well from tonight’s squad.

Let’s hope a substantial number of these players soon find new clubs, both for their own careers and most importantly, to help Rafa Benitez with his rebuilding job by generating space and extra cash for new signings.

The full first team and reserve/Under 23 pre-season schedules/results –

The first team friendlies:

Friday 14 July – Hearts 1 Newcastle 2

Saturday 22 July – Preston 1 Newcastle 1

Wednesday 26 July – Bradford away 7.30pm

Saturday 29 July – Mainz away 4pm local time (3pm UK time)

Wednesday 2 August – Wolfsburg away 4pm local time (3pm UK time)

Sunday 6 August – Hellas Verona home 3pm

Under 23/Reserves pre-season friendlies:

Monday 17 July – Darlington 1 Newcastle 2

Saturday 22 July – Gateshead 0 Newcastle 3

Tuesday 25 July – Whitley Bay 0 Newcastle 0

Thursday 27 July – Celtic (at Whitby Town)

Saturday 29 July – AZ Alkmaar or Whitby (at Whitby Town)

(All contributions from Newcastle fans welcome, send articles (as well as ideas/suggestions) to contribute@themag.co.uk)

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