Newcastle United embark on their pre-season tour next month, with fixtures against Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico Madrid in the pipeline.
It is the biggest pre-season test in recent years for the Magpies, but one which should give fans a good idea of whether the squad is strong enough to compete for another solid Premier League finish and give a good account of themselves in the Champions League.
Newcastle United take on Celtic in Glasgow for the first-ever Adidas trophy. It marks the Magpies’ first visit to Celtic Park since 2007 for a game that should have a tremendous atmosphere from both sets of fans.
After that, Newcastle are travelling to Singapore for a game against Arsenal before jetting off to South Asia for games against the K-League all-stars and Tottenham before returning to St James’ Park to play Espanyol in a friendly and a Sela Cup clash against Spanish giants Atletico Madrid.
Fans will have the opportunity to see their favourite players like Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali in action before the start of the Premier League season. However, these games will be a great opportunity for players in Newcastle’s academy to shine.
With pre-season fast approaching, here are five academy gems who are expected to play in those games.
Alex Murphy during a League One game between Barnsley and Bolton Wanderers
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Alex Murphy
Having spent the second half of the season on loan at Bolton Wanderers, young defender Alex Murphy returns to Newcastle with first-team minutes under his belt in the Football League. It was not the best of times for him in the North West, but Murphy’s game time is sure to have given him the confidence to kick on in the future.
Before leaving, Murphy asked Eddie Howe for more minutes. That is when Howe told him that he must go out on loan and impress to be in with a shot of breaking into the first team next season.
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21 in June, Murphy will be itching to play Premier League football after making his debut for the Magpies in November 2023. Howe has six games to give him his opportunity, which Murphy will be well aware of.
Cathal Heffernan during a Premier League 2 game between Newcastle United and Everton
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Cathal Heffernan
Having signed from AC Milan in 2023, there was a lot of hype around Cathal Heffernan’s arrival on Tyneside. The 20-year-old was part of Newcastle’s Under-19 squad that played in the UEFA Youth League during the 2023/24 campaign, picking up impressive wins against the likes of PSG and AC Milan.
Heffernan has captained Newcastle’s Under-21s on multiple occasions, showing he has the potential to take up the same role in the Magpies’ starting XI in the future if the stars align.
The Irishman was part of Howe’s pre-season plans ahead of the 2024/25 season, and will likely be in his thinking for the games this summer. With Newcastle looking to sign a centre-back, Heffernan could show Howe that he has a capable player in the academy waiting for his opportunity.
If Heffernan plays well, he could save the club millions.
Sean Neave arrives at St James' Park ahead of Newcastle United vs Brentford in the Premier League.
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Sean Neave
After breaking into Newcastle’s first-team squad in the second half of last season, it is a guarantee that Sean Neave will be part of Howe’s pre-season squad.
In June, it was confirmed that Neave signed a new deal with Newcastle, keeping him at the club until 2028. Reports stated that the 18-year-old will be given opportunities to impress during pre-season after being exposed to life in the first team by Howe.
Neave has not made his professional debut for Newcastle, but good performances in pre-season could see him fast-tracked to a place in the starting XI if he delivers.
At such a young age, Neave will be eager to impress and show that Newcastle have a player who could succeed Isak if he leaves in the future.
Sean Neave and Leo Shahar warming up before playing for Newcastle United Under-21s against Middlesbrough Under-21s.
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Leo Shahar
The second of three players to recently sign new deals with the Magpies, Leo Shahar has been terrific in Newcastle’s academy since joining from Wolves in 2023.
At just 18 years old, Shahar has already broken into the first-team picture, being named on the bench for a Premier League game against Brentford at St James’ Park. While he did not play, he is sure to have benefited from being around the first team in training and soaking up the atmosphere during the game.
With Kieran Trippier now 35, Shahar could easily take his place in Newcastle’s first team next season and become the second or third choice to Tino Livramento. Like many others, pre-season will be huge for him.
In a recent interview, Shahar shared his admiration for Sandro Tonali. He will now have the opportunity to play alongside him in pre-season.
Trevan Sanusi arrives for a game between Newcastle United U21s and Arsenal U21s.
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Trevan Sanusi
Known for his spectacular dribbling ability, many Newcastle fans see Trevan Sanusi as the second coming of Allan Saint-Maximin.
The winger lit up the Premier League 2 and even made his professional debut for the Magpies in an FA Cup game against Bromley at St James’ Park. The 18-year-old was unfortunate to suffer an injury which kept him out for the first few months of 2025, but he is now fit and ready to play once again.
Predominantly a left-winger, Sanusi will struggle for minutes in the Premier League next season, but he should still get the chance to show Howe exactly what he can do in pre-season.
Sanusi joined Neave and Shahar as young players who signed new deals at Newcastle in June and will be working hard for their chance to play more often.