Newcastle United confirmed starting XI vs Espanyol as Seung-soo Park and Aaron Ramsdale make debuts.
Eddie Howe's side take on the LaLiga outfit in their penultimate pre-season friendly, with South Korean youngster Seung-soo Ramsdale handed starts at St James’ Park.
Two Newcastle United debuts vs Espanyol
It is Seung-soo's first start after impressing in cameo appearances against Team K-League and Tottenham Hotspur in Seoul, while Ramsdale plays for the first time since joining on a season-long loan deal from Southampton.
Ramsdale is behind a four back four of Emil Krafth, Fabian Schar, Dan Burn and Matt Targett, with it looking like Lewis Hall - making his first start since March after recovering from a foot injury - will join the midfield three alongside captain Bruno Guimaraes and Lewis Miley. Jacob Murphy and Seung-soo start in the wide areas with Will Osula up top.
Howe has named a youthful bench with other first-team players held back for tomorrow’s Sela Cup match against Champions League outfit Atletico Madrid.
Newcastle United starting XI and subs vs Espanyol
Newcastle United XI: Aaron Ramsdale; Emil Krafth, Fabian Schar, Dan Burn, Matt Targett; Lewis Miley, Bruno Guimaraes, Lewis Hall; Jacob Murphy, Will Osula, Seung-soo Park.
Substitutes: John Ruddy, Mark Gillespie, Leo Shahar, Cathal Heffernan, Alex Murphy, Scott Bailey, Dylan Charlton, Alfie Harrison, Trevan Sanusi, Garang Kuol, Sean Neave.
Alexander Isak’s absence continued
Alexander Isak won’t feature in either of the weekend games as he continues to train alone amid his desire to join Liverpool.
The 25-year-old reported a thigh injury and despite the scan results coming back clear, sat out of the club’s pre-season tour of Asia. Isak then proceeded to travel to Spain to train individually at former club Real Sociedad, a trip head coach Eddie Howe found out about through the media.
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Howe then warned the Swede he would have to “earn the right to train with the group” and that “no player can expect to act poorly and train with the group as normal.” The Newcastle boss has doubled down on those comments this week.
Howe’s squad were given Monday and Tuesday off this week after returning from Asia and on those days, Isak reported to the club’s training ground in the morning to train individually.
However, when the squad returned to Benton on Wednesday, Isak was told to report later in the day when his teammates had or were indeed leaving the building. That remained the same on Thursday.
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