'Ones to watch' at Newcastle United this pre-season - Part 1
Two days into the official return of the players for pre-season training at Benton, and with things seemingly hotting up off-the-pitch, we are fast approaching another busy season of football for Newcastle United.
A first new starting eleven signing in three transfer windows (and hopefully more to come); additions to the coaching setup, and rumours swirling around United will see plenty of interest over the next few weeks of pre-season as the lads gear up for the opening game of our summer away to Celtic a week tomorrow (19th July).
Here are the first five exciting things fans can look forward to this pre-season – part 1:
- The arrival of Anthony Elanga
This had to be number one, right? United's new boy, Anthony Elanga, who will be announced officially any minute now, signing a five-year deal in a £52m move from Nottingham Forest that could rise to £55m.
The Swedish international brings pace, a fresh attacking threat to the squad, and the fifth best output across the last two Premier League seasons. The 23-year-old hugely impressed for Forest last season, scoring five goals and bagging eleven assists, and Eddie Howe will be hoping Elanga’s addition will inject excitement and unpredictability into the front line. Fans will be eager to see how he adapts to Howe’s system and how he forms partnerships with key players, especially his international teammate Alexander Isak.
On paper, it feels like a lot of money for a player who has only delivered across one season but if he was Eddie Howe’s number one target then there will certainly be a plan to integrate him into our style of play quickly and we will just have to wait and see if Elanga can develop into a world class operator.
- Tactical innovation with Martin Mark
The appointment of the FC Midtjylland set-piece coach Martin Mark will certainly raise expectations for improved efficiency from dead-ball situations.
Mark started out as the Danish sides youth coach and he has been in charge of set pieces since 2022. Very much in vogue (with the TV cameras panning to them on a regular basis) United appear to have appointed a specialist to a role which will hopefully help with the marginal gains of modern football.
Last season, 27 of FC Midtjylland's 60 league goals came from set-pieces, also helping them reach the Europa League group stages.
Innovation at set pieces will give United another aspect in both boxes next season and it will certainly be very interesting to see what he can come up with over the coming season.
- The returns of Botman, Hall and Joelinton
Something never feels quite right with the side when Joelinton is missing and with the Brazilian fully fit again we will welcome his unique profile back into the midfield. He was a colossus in the League Cup final, in what was his performance of the season, but there were also plenty of other games the 28-year-old dragged the team through with his fight, heart and quality [Forest (A), So’ton (H)]. Entering the prime of his career it will be a big season for Big Joe.
Sven Botman, after a lengthy 18-month injury layoff, is set to start a first Premier League season in three at full fitness and he will be looking to oust Dan Burn from the left-sided centre back position as soon as possible. The Dutchman is an incredible, modern centre back with his excellent passing range and reading of the game, and he elevates the side when he plays. Still just 25, Botman will be one to watch over pre-season, and especially in the Champions League where he only played once last time around.
Lewis Hall is another who is set to make a much-anticipated return in time for the beginning of the season. His presence will bolster both defensive and attacking areas, and he will be looking to continue his rapid development under Eddie Howe. He will probably miss the first couple of games of pre-season, but with 2026 being a World Cup year, the lad will want to impress.
- Pre-season clash with Celtic
The clash with Celtic will be an interesting encounter for United in the inaugural Adidas Cup as it will be a mirror image of the third and fourth pot teams we will play during the Champions League campaign.
It what promises to be an intriguing encounter, it will not just be a test of fitness but an opportunity to see the level of those sorts of sides, of which United will play four games against in the League Phase of the competition. It’s a theme which repeats itself across the pre=season fixtures – with Arsenal, Spurs, Espanyol and Atletico Madrid also on the pre-season fixture list.
The high-energy Parkhead atmosphere will be a huge first game to start pre-season but it is a game United should be winning comfortably and will hopefully be a match which will offer a glimpse of what lies ahead for the campaign.
- Emerging young talents
⚫️⚪️ A few U21s who appear to be training with the first team this week:
🏴 Trevan Sanusi (LW)
🏴 Sean Neave (ST)
🏴 Ben Parkinson (ST)
🏴 Leo Shahar (RB)
🇳🇴 Travis Hernes (CM)
🇮🇪 Alex Murphy (LB)
🏴 Max Thompson (GK)#NUFC pic.twitter.com/DR72iVgC2c— NUFCBlog.co.uk (@NUFCblogcouk) July 9, 2025
Will United blood any youngsters this pre-season? Sean Neave, Antonio Cordero, Alfie Harrison et al will be looking to impress and will be eager to step up.
Will Osula is another who will be looking to stake a claim as a backup to Alexander Isak, and it's impressive to see he's back early despite being granted extra time off after last month's U21 Euros.
Recently loaned out players such as Joe White, Harrison Ashby and Alex Murphy are also with the first team group this week, handing them chances to impress Howe.
Pre-season can traditionally be a platform for prospects to shine and force their way into the first team picture. Leo Shahar is another who has trained with the first team. Trevan Sanusi has made his first team debut and Travis Hernes is highly rated too. United have spent a lot to bolster their young sides over the last three years and surely there must be an expectation that some of them will look to break into the first team squad soon.
United could potentially play 60-plus games this season and with a squad of only 25 senior players available, the reservoir of young players will have to be tapped at some point, especially with the age of some of the players in United’s squad. And preseason must be the time they start to stake their claim.
