Al-Hilal 0-5 Newcastle: Almiron at it again & Karius shines as Toon run riot in Riyadh

Newcastle United secured a Diriyah Cup victory over Al-Hilal on Thursday night, beating the Saudi Pro League champions 5-0!

In the 5pm clash at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, Joelinton got on the scoresheet twice in a competitive affair in Riyadh - although Loris Karius was the star of the show in a first half that featured two brilliant stops on his debut.

The second half was full of changes, seeing a host of U21 talents feature, but it was Miguel Almiron who continued his stunning form in front of goal with two emphatic finishes in a final 45 totally dominated by the Toon.

A fifth then came from Dylan Stephenson, as the 19-year-old Geordie rounded off the scoring to seal an emphatic win - and the Diriyah Cup - for Newcastle United.

Howe named a strong side, handing starts to Sven Botman, Jonjo Shelvey, Joelinton, Allan Saint-Maximin. Loris Karius also made his debut for the club, while Jamal Lewis was handed a rare opportunity to impress from left-back.

Matt Targett and Karl Darlow were absent through illness, while Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson, Nick Pope, Bruno Guimaraes, Fabian Schar and Garang Kuol won't be involved in our warm-weather training camp due to their involvement in the World Cup.

NUFC XI: Karius – Manquillo, Lascelles, Botman, Lewis – Shelvey, Willock, Joelinton – Murphy, Wood, Saint-Maximin.

Subs: Gillespie, Fraser, Almiron, Anderson, Burn, Longstaff, White, Stephenson, Turner-Cooke, A.Murphy, Miley.

Our first chance of the game came on six minutes, where Chris Wood's cut-back was almost tapped in by Jacob Murphy; who saw his effort blocked on the line.

However, less than 60 seconds later it was 1-0 Newcastle as Jacob Murphy beat his man with ease down the right and hung up a back-post cross that was headed home emphatically by Joelinton.

It was a high-intensity start from both sides and Loris Karius was called into action on a couple of occasions, safely gathering two shots on target from the hosts, who'd started brightly despite going a goal down.

Jamal Lewis struggled defensively in the early stages, with the majority of their play coming down our left. Make no mistake, Al-Hilal were playing at a good intensity and moving the ball quickly, however the former Norwich man did himself no favours before a trademark burst from Allan Saint-Maximin almost put Chris Wood in behind on the 20-minute mark.

Sven Botman came close to picking some nice passes from the back, although it was clear Jonjo Shelvey wasn't quite up to speed after missing the majority of the season with a hamstring injury.

After a clever ball across the box from Saint-Maximin, Murphy cut in and had an effort of his own well blocked, but it was Karius who was called into action moment later, getting down brilliantly to deny former Man Utd striker Odion Ighalo from six yards out. We were looking shaky at the back, but the German had made a very solid start, showing good handling, solid positioning and often looking to release the ball quickly.

On the 35-minute mark, a clumsy push from Botman was checked by VAR; which was in operation at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium. No penalty, however it certainly fell into the category of 'seen them given.'

Chris Wood was then forced off with an injury - a worry given Isak is not yet fit and Wilson is away - and replaced by Sean Longstaff, seeing Saint-Maximin move up front and Joelinton push up to the left side of a front three.

Then, two minutes before the break, Joelinton bagged his second of the night, sliding a low effort over the line after latching onto a lovely through ball from Willock. 2-0 Newcastle, although it required another superb stop from Karius to keep it that way before half-time, with the former Liverpool stopper tipping Carrillo's curling effort wide of the post.

A solid half and decent test at this point, with Murphy and Willock both putting in lively first-half displays after brilliant work at either end from Karius and big Joe.

The Blaydon Races blasted around the stadium during the break and two changes followed as the players came out for the second 45, seeing Mark Gillespie and Miguel Almiron replace the impressive Loris Karius and Jacob Murphy.

After a stray backpass from Manquillo almost caught Gillespie out, it was Newcastle who almost made it three 50 minutes in, as man of the moment Miggy Almiron crashed a thumping effort off the bar from the edge of the box.

Ighalo then avoided red after an awful challenge down Almiron's achilles, with Botman almost making it 3-0 moments later after a towering header from a Jonjo Shelvey corner was parried clear by the Al-Hilal goalie.

Our fourth change of the night then followed as Elliot Anderson replaced Joelinton. The Geordie talent almost bagged himself an assist moments later after latching onto Almiron's through ball, however the local lad was marginally offside before he squared for Willock's tap-in.

Botman, Willock and Shelvey then made way, with Dan Burn, Ryan Fraser and U21 star Joe White coming on for the final 30 minutes of a game Newcastle were well and truly dominating at this point.

Ex-Porto star Moussa Marega came on for the hosts, who were still being spurred on by a lively crowd, however Jamaal Lascelles did superbly to header a dangerous cross clear to preserve our clean sheet with 25 minutes remaining.

At the other end, Anderson was unlucky - once again - not to get on the scoresheet, as his low shot cannoned off the post after some good work from Saint-Maximin, however it was Almiron who made it three moments later, firing in off the post Anderson had just hit after a brilliant solo run saw him leave two Al-Hilal players for dead.

3-0 Newcastle and two more changes followed, with summer signing Alex Murphy and U21 striker Dylan Stephenson replacing Jamal Lewis and Allan Saint-Maximin.

There was more goals in this for Howe's high-flying Mags, but Irish defender Murphy made an immediate impression at the back, doing well to stick with the powerful Marega before blocking his cross.

Two goals in quick succession then followed for Newcastle. First it was Miguel Almiron again, who fired home expertly from the back post after a nice pick out from Longstaff, then Stephenson bagged his first senior goal from a perfectly weighted cross from Fraser.

Our final two changes then followed, as 16-year-old midfielder Lewis Miley and former Sunderland prospect Jay Turner-Cooke came on for Jamaal Lascelles and Javier Manquillo - two players who put in solid shifts at the back.

A great run out for Howe's Mags and impressive win against a decent Al-Hilal side who simply couldn't handle our pace, energy and precision in attack.

Next up, a friendly with Rayo Vallecano on Saturday 17th December ahead of competitive games against Bournemouth, Leicester and Leeds later this month!