Newcastle United began their pre-season schedule with a 2-1 victory over Valencia in new head coach Matthias Jaissle’s inaugural match. The friendly, held at the Mestalla Stadium, saw Newcastle come from behind after conceding an early goal.
Filip Ugrinic opened the scoring for Valencia within four minutes. However, Newcastle responded, with substitute Yoane Wissa scoring two goals to secure the win. Other substitutes, including Bazoumana Toure and Sean Steur, who joined the club this summer, also featured prominently.
The match was not without incident, as Anthony Elanga was stretchered off following a tackle from Jose Gaya, which resulted in a red card for the Valencia player. Despite initial concerns, Elanga was later seen walking, with his injury, a bruised shin, not thought to be serious.
New Era Under Jaissle
Jaissle expressed satisfaction with his team’s commitment, stating that winning games helps to build confidence. He acknowledged the hard work put in by the players during the week leading up to the match. The new head coach has been working with the squad in La Manga, implementing his ideas ahead of the upcoming Premier League season.
The fixture marked a period of significant change for the club, with former head coach Eddie Howe having departed. Several key players, including Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, and Anthony Gordon, have also left the club over the past year.
Jaissle’s appointment signals a focus on youth development, a strategy he previously employed at RB Salzburg. The average age of the Newcastle squad has been lowered, with Harvey Barnes, at 28, being the oldest starter in the friendly. Goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek, 24, midfielder Aladji Bamba, 20, and forward Toure, 20, all made their debuts, while 18-year-old Steur impressed from the bench.
Malick Thiaw, celebrating his 25th birthday, captained the side, leading a team that will require youthful energy to execute Jaissle’s intense style of play. Jaissle was actively involved on the touchline throughout the match, frequently urging his players forward.
Squad Changes and Player Status
The starting lineup for Jaissle’s first match included Lukáš Horníček in goal, making his debut after signing from Braga. Miodrag Pivaš, a 21-year-old Serbian defender, also made his first start for the club, joining Leo Shahar, Sven Botman, and Malick Thiaw in the backline. Midfielders Aladji Bamba and Jacob Ramsey were paired, with Harvey Barnes and Anthony Elanga on the wings. Nick Woltemade and William Osula led the attack.
Several players were unavailable for the friendly. Lewis Hall was not risked due to a knock, while Fabian Schär and Alex Murphy were ruled out. Tino Livramento had undergone minor surgery earlier in the summer. Dan Burn is expected to rejoin the squad next week after his participation in the World Cup, where England reached the semi-finals.
Among the substitutes were Newbottle-born teenage defender Henry Johnson, who recently signed his first professional contract, and Dylan Charlton. Other players hoping for minutes included Joelinton, Yoane Wissa, Sean Steur, Bazoumana Touré, Jacob Murphy, Joe Willock, Rory Finneran, Sean Neave, and Mason Miley. Mark Gillespie and Aidan Harris were the substitute goalkeepers.
Jaissle also made a notable decision regarding goalkeeper Nick Pope, who was not included in the squad for the Valencia match. Jaissle indicated he had discussed the situation with Pope, acknowledging his appreciation for the player’s career achievements.
Following the friendly in Spain, Jaissle is set to return to Newcastle for the first time as head coach. He plans to visit St James’ Park next week before his formal unveiling.
Source: bbc.com