Newcastle United’s pre-season tour of Asia came to an end on Sunday with a 1-1 draw against Tottenham.
Eddie Howe’s side have not enjoyed the best of summers and remain without a victory throughout pre-season.
Newcastle drew 1-1 with Spurs in Seoul, recovering after a dreadful start against their Premier League rivals.
Brennan Johnson put Thomas Frank’s team into an early lead before Harvey Barnes got the Magpies back on level terms with a well-taken strike.
Here are five things we learned, with all the usual caveats about pre-season games not always being indicative of what’s to come applied.
Newcastle United players in a huddle before playing Tottenham in a pre-season friendly.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Newcastle United desperately need Benjamin Sesko or Alexander Isak
As things stand, goals look like they will be a major problem for Newcastle.
No one outside of the wantaway Alexander Isak got into double figures in the Premier League last season and, if the Sweden star gets his way, he’ll no longer be at the club next time out.
Newcastle won’t sell Isak without a replacement and, if pre-season is anything to go by, that looks to be the right decision no matter how much ill-feeling there is.
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Benjamin Sesko could replace Isak at Newcastle but Manchester United are still lurking and could yet beat Howe’s side to his signature.
Little about what Newcastle did against Spurs would suggest there is anyone capable of taking on the goalscoring burden full-time. The longer the Sesko/Isak impasse goes, the more damaging it will be for Howe.
If Newcastle start the Premier League season without either in the side, it’s going to be a long few weeks.
Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes, Matt Targett and Lewis Miley celebrate Newcastle United's goal against Tottenham in a pre-season friendly in Seoul, South Korea.
Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes impress
It’s not all bad on the attacking front for Newcastle, however.
Barnes impressed in front of goal in a supplementary role last season and though it would be foolish to suggest he can replace Isak or prove a full-time alternative to Sesko, he looked dangerous against Spurs.
Anthony Gordon, meanwhile, is showing some positive signs this summer. Last season was difficult for him, but Gordon is happy at Newcastle again and it’s starting to show.
He’s already looked more energetic this summer than he did for large portions of last season.
Howe deployed the England international up front, and while that cannot be a long-term thing, Gordon had some nice touches.
Trouble ahead as Newcastle United lack midfield depth
Newcastle might not sign a new midfielder this summer despite the exit of Sean Longstaff.
Though the Newcastle United manager has some excellent options at his disposal, options behind the first-team are lacking. Last season, the midfield was the key strength in the Newcastle United squad.
There’s a worrying lack of depth. Newcastle generally operate with three in midfield and have only five players to cover that area.
Lewis Miley will step up next season but Joe Willock was hardly convincing even before his injury.
If any one of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali or Joelinton get injured next season, Newcastle are currently on course to be in big trouble.
Lewis Hall returns just at the right time
Lewis Hall finally made his return from a foot injury on Sunday.
The England defender was brilliant last season and will be looking to build on what was a breakout campaign.
It will be fantastic to see how he develops over the next few months. If he can get back to anywhere approaching the level he was at before having to undergo surgery, Newcastle boast one of the better full-back pairings in the Premier League.
Major Eddie Howe decision imminent
Newcastle signed Aaron Ramsdale on loan on Saturday, though he was not available for this game.
A decision, however, is coming. Nick Pope has been a fine custodian for Newcastle since he joined the club from Burnley but Howe has chased the signing of a new goalkeeper for two summers now.
Newcastle first went for James Trafford in 2024 before trying again this summer and eventually missing out on him. Ramsdale became the alternative, given he is also noted for his distribution skills.
Whoever Howe picks in goal for the Sela Cup double-header next weekend could tell us so much about the direction he wants to go in this season.
If Ramsdale comes in, then it will surely be because Howe would like to see his team develop their play when it comes to building from the back. In that event, Pope may have a fight on his hands to reclaim his starting berth.