It’s less than a week now until the first preseason game against Celtic, and we are fast approaching another busy season of football for Newcastle United.
After sharing [part one](https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2025/07/11/10-ones-to-watch-at-newcastle-united-over-pre-season-part-1/) on Friday, here is part two and five more ones to watch as we head into pre-season and the 2025/26 campaign:
This will probably raise an eyebrow or two, but I think it’s been overlooked just how big a part the former team captain could play this season.
Depending on whether United sign a right-sided centre-back or not (it seems very likely, even if no concrete target has emerged), Lascelles could see plenty of game time in the “lesser” fixtures.
Returning in a 45-minute cameo against Carlisle on Saturday (a 4-0 win) after an injury-decimated 18 months, and with his leadership qualities never in doubt, he could be pivotal both on and off the pitch.
Signing a centre-back must be a priority at United because, apart from Botman, it is the most aged part of our squad with Schar and Burn set to be 34 this season.
Lascelles, 31, has shown he can adapt to our evolving defensive setup under Eddie Howe; let’s not forget he started and played very well in the 4-1 smashing of PSG two seasons ago, but a fan base recently scarred by how injuries ruined Callum Wilson will need to see evidence of Lascelles’ recovery during preseason.
1. **Tactical tweaks from Eddie Howe**
Eddie Howe’s tactical acumen will be under the spotlight during preseason as some of the rumoured players we are/were interested in would necessitate new formations for the upcoming season.
Both Joao Pedro and, the now re-linked Hugo Ekitike, would/would’ve required a shift away from the tried and tested 4-3-3 system, with speculation suggesting a shift towards more fluid attacking setups, including potential trials of a 3-4-3 or 4-2-3-1.
For me, our very clear pursuit of Pedro was an early hint that we want to mix it up, at times, next season by bringing in someone able to play just off Alexander Isak. Someone different with real technical ability to help us break down a low block, perhaps?
United are one of the most devastating teams on the transition in the Premier League, with the signing of Anthony Elanga set to amplify that threat, but have struggled when teams come to St James’ and shut up shop. When teams sit deep and compress the space between the backline and the goalkeeper, United will need a new/adapted system to overcome those sorts of challenges, especially in Europe, and preseason friendlies will serve as the ideal testing ground for these tactical experiments.
1. **Preparing for the new Champions League format**
With Newcastle sadly missing out on European football altogether last season, many fans only experienced the new Champions League format at a distance. With the competition adopting a league-style phase, United face the prospect of more matches against Europe’s elite. With four games guaranteed to be against some of Europe’s finest clubs, I only hope we draw two sides at SJP that have never been there before – that’s my only wish.
Pot three and four are full of interesting and storied sides with the potential for some excellent away days, including Napoli, Olympiacos, Bilbao and Union Saint-Gilloise, with seven spots still to be confirmed via qualifiers this summer.
Overall, United will play eight group stage games, lasting up until January 2026, and the average point total needed to finish in the top 24 out of 36 was just ten – an infinitely achievable total. Some would argue that’s ludicrous to have so many games to only result in 12 teams being eliminated from the competition, but this faux-jeopardy (with teams finishing between 9th and 24th entering a playoff round) should be massively in United’s favour to go far in the competition.
The league-stage draw takes place on the 28th of August.
This very much feels like a ‘rip the plaster off and just get it over and done with one’ if the leaked green kit is anything to go by. Adidas have generally generated excitement over the launch of Newcastle’s new kits since they came back in as kit supplier, but this one (if the leaks are true) might be one to miss.
The home and third kits already released have knocked it out of the park (still not personally sure about the black shield behind the badge on the third kit), and with more United ranges on the way, there will surely be another uptick in commercial revenue in next season’s accounts.
1. **Can Gordon get back to his best?**
In short, yes, I think he can. If he’s consistently played in his best/preferred position, I do not see why the Liverpudlian can’t reach the heights he was scaling twelve months ago. He was done dirty by Southgate last summer, which wrecked his confidence as he was shunted aside for inferior players, and despite lots of outside noise, he still finished last season with 16 goal involvements across all competitions.
Still only 24 years old, the lad has got a huge ability ceiling, and with the improved, lightning-quick front three United will have next season, and with a clear preseason behind him, I think he can reach, if not eclipse, his 2023/24 levels, especially with all the added European games.
United took a punt on the potential of Gordon two and a half years ago, and unless a stupid bid comes in (£90m plus), then I would expect him to be lining up, and hopefully tearing it up, this season, and he will be looking to get off to the perfect start against Celtic in eight days’ time as preseason starts properly.