Newcastle United face AFC Champions League challenge

3 months ago 34

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An AFC Champions League challenge awaits Newcastle United.

Wednesday sees Eddie Howe’s players facing Urawa Red Diamonds v Newcastle United, this is a local 7.30pm kick-off and 11.30am in the UK.

Today’s opposition have won the AFC Champions League three times, no other Japanese team has won that competition (the most prestigious in Asian football) more than once.

Urawa Red Diamonds last won the AFC Champions League two years ago and will be the toughest pre-season opposition that Newcastle United have faced so far.

It ended Newcastle 3 SpVgg Unterhaching 1 in a behind-closed-doors friendly against the third-tier German team at Adidas HQ 11 days ago, then on Saturday it was a 2-0 win at Hull, Alexander Isak scoring in both matches.

Eddie Howe though has flagged up an extra challenge, as well as the quality today’s opposition team have.

The Newcastle United Head Coach pointing to the heat and humidity, which he says has even made it challenging to simply train.

Eddie Howe speaking ahead of facing Urawa Red Diamonds:

“When you travel somewhere this distance and the turnaround times are very quick, the travel really does impact you.

“And speaking sort of on behalf of the players… it is tough.

“I think the biggest factor we will have to deal with is the heat.

“Just from the training, you can see the effect that it has on the players.

“Even a drill that’s very light suddenly turns into a tough one.

“I think that athletically it’s going to be a big test for us.

“Probably the ideal test for where we are during pre-season.”

These are the 29 Newcastle United players who have flown to Japan:

Goalkeepers:

Pope, Ruddy, Dubravka, Vlachodimos, Gillespie

Defenders:

Ashby, Lewis, Livramento, Hall, Schar, Burn, Krafth, Kelly, Thompson, Heffernan

Midfield/Attack:

Tonali (His suspension means he can’t play in any of the public first-team pre-season friendlies), Joelinton, Longstaff, Guimaraes, J.Miley, Barnes, J.Murphy, Almiron, Al.Harrison, Willock, Sanusi, Turner-Cooke, Parkinson, Isak

Newcastle United schedule to end of September 2024:

Saturday 20 July 2024 – Newcastle 3 SpVgg Unterhaching 1

Saturday 27 July 2024 – Hull 0 Newcastle 2

Wednesday 31 July 2024 – Urawa Red Diamonds v Newcastle United friendly (11.30am UK time, 7.30pm local time) in Japan, playing at the 62,000 capacity Saitama Stadium, the largest football-specific stadium in Japan.

Saturday 3 August 2024 – Yokohama F Marinos v Newcastle United friendly (11am UK time, 7pm local time) at the National Stadium in Toyko.

Friday 9 August 2024 – Newcastle United v Girona FC friendly 7.30pm kick-off (SJP Sela weekend)

Saturday 10 August 2024 – Newcastle United v Stade Brestois 4pm kick-off (SJP Sela weekend)

Wednesday 14 August 2024 – The Carabao Cup second round draw will be made around 10pm.

Saturday 17 August 2024 – Newcastle v Southampton (3pm)

Sunday 25 August 2024 – Bournemouth v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports

Week commencing Monday 26 August 2024 – Carabao Cup round two matches will be played

Friday 30 August 2024 – Summer transfer window closes at 11pm.

Sunday 1 September 2024 – Newcastle v Tottenham (1.30pm) Sky Sports

(The first international break of the season)

Sunday 15 September 2024 – Wolves v Newcastle (4.30 pm) Sky Sports

Weeks commencing Monday 16 September AND Monday 23 September – Carabao Cup round three (This round split over two midweeks)