Abdulhafiz TeslimEddie Howe addressed the media for the first time this summer after Newcastle United were held to a 1-1 draw by non-League neighbours Gateshead in a friendly match on Saturday.
The Newcastle head coach admitted he did not know what will happen with Bruno Guimaraes, who has indicated that he wishes to join Arsenal, the Premier League champions. However, Howe reiterated that he wants Guimaraes, his team captain, to remain at the club.
He also spoke about the “painful” departures of Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon to Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona respectively earlier this summer, while expressing optimism about Newcastle’s new trading model.
Luke Supyk opened the scoring for Gateshead, who play in the fifth-tier National League, in the 34th minute, completely against the run of play. Newcastle finally equalised in the 79th minute when a Lewis Hall cross was diverted into his own net by Ben Williams.
Sean Steur and Ewen Jaouen, two of Newcastle’s summer signings, made their first appearances in front of supporters.
Chris Waugh and George Caulkin analyse the key talking points.
What is the latest on Guimaraes’ future?
There was no Guimaraes at the International Stadium today. Like the rest of Newcastle’s World Cup contingent, the Brazil international has been given an extended off-season break and is due to return to the club on Friday, July 31.
“There’s nothing to say Bruno won’t be back training with us,” Howe said.
His post-match comments were brief. While there has been plenty of contact from intermediaries, Arsenal have made no official bid for the 28-year-old, and Newcastle have no interest in selling him. They need Guimaraes, which places their valuation firmly in the “irrational” bracket.
Howe said he spoke to Guimaraes before, during and after the World Cup, and described them as “really good conversations”. However, he also admitted he has little control over how the situation will be resolved.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen with Bruno’s future,” he said. “That’s for other people to speculate about, but also conversations that I’m not part of.”
Was he concerned that this could develop into a saga similar to Alexander Isak’s drawn-out and contentious move to Liverpool last summer, which saw the Sweden striker refuse to train with or play for Newcastle until the transfer was completed at the start of September?
“I don’t think it’s fair to compare situations and what happened previously,” Howe said. “I think you’ve got to look at this on its own merits. Bruno is the captain of our football club. He’s been an unbelievable player and person throughout the time we’ve worked together. I speak on behalf of everyone at the football club when I say we absolutely love him, and, of course, everyone would want him to stay.”
The quietly impressive debutant
Only one of Newcastle’s four summer signings to date was named in the starting XI against Gateshead. Bazoumana Toure and Aladji Bamba are yet to begin training with their new team, while Jaouen, the goalkeeper, started on the bench.
Steur, an 18-year-old midfielder who joined from Ajax for a fee that could rise to €25million (£21.3million; $28.4million), can operate as either a No 6 or a No 8 and had already taken part in Ajax’s pre-season preparations before moving to England.
In Howe’s preferred 4-3-3 system, Steur was deployed as the deep-lying central midfielder, with Jacob Ramsey to his right and Joe Willock, who is attracting interest from Turkish side Besiktas, to his left.
It was immediately evident how comfortable Steur is on the ball, willing to play forward with either foot. Demanding possession, directing his new team-mates and drifting into full-back areas, he consistently looked to play progressive passes between the lines.
Physically, Steur still requires significant development, and Newcastle were fully aware of that when they signed him. The teenager needs to add strength, and it may take him time to adapt to the rigours of English football.
However, there are no doubts about his mentality. He is a confident individual who has impressed the coaching staff with his self-belief and determination to become more than just a squad player during his debut campaign on Tyneside. He has a high ceiling.
“He can be really pleased with his performance,” Howe said.
Jaouen, meanwhile, came on in the 69th minute, replacing Nick Pope.
Just as Newcastle lacked a cutting edge in attack with all three senior strikers absent, signing a new first-choice goalkeeper remains a priority. Pope could arguably have done better to prevent Gateshead’s goal, but Jaouen had virtually nothing to do during his time on the pitch.
Transfers in and out…
Howe did not hide his disappointment over the sales of Gordon and Tonali.
“We don’t want to lose our best players,” he said. “That’s an obvious statement to make. Losing those two was painful and difficult for us. So, for me, it’s been another challenging summer for us so far. But we’re always trying to do our best for the football club, both in the short and long term, and to get the squad into its best possible shape.”
Newcastle are targeting younger players this summer. As well as Steur and Jaouen, both Toure and Bamba are 20 years old.
“I’m very supportive of what the club wants to do,” Howe said. “There’s been a clear shift in terms of the profile and age of the players we’re bringing in. I’ve always believed in developing young players, so that fits perfectly with my philosophy.”
Defensive midfielder Bamba became Newcastle’s fourth senior signing of the summer this week, joining from Monaco for €40million.
“Bamba will bring unique qualities,” Howe said. “He’s got excellent physical presence and good technical ability, but, like all the signings we’ve made this summer, he’ll need a little bit of time and patience.
“We all need to support the players who have come in. We can’t put too much pressure on them. Part of my job is to take that pressure away and allow them to develop.”
Tributes to ‘King Kev’
The cathedral on the hill has become a shrine—a place of worship for the man Newcastle supporters still refer to as their “Messiah”.
Kevin Keegan represented the club across three spells, electrifying Newcastle when he signed as a player in 1982 before rescuing them from oblivion when he returned as manager a decade later.
By Saturday morning, the temporary tribute around the statues of Alan Shearer and Sir Bobby Robson outside St James’ Park had become an ocean of affection, filled with black-and-white shirts, scarves, photographs, cards and flowers spelling out “King Kev” and “Legend”.
A large crowd stood around the corner where the Gallowgate and Milburn stands meet, quietly reflecting. Others queued at the box office to sign a book of condolence.
Keegan was born in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, but was the son of a Geordie, and few people have ever understood the potential of Newcastle United and the spirit of the city better than he did.
A minute’s silence was observed before the Gateshead match, while a banner reading “Rest in Peace Kevin Keegan 1951–2026” was displayed on the pitch. Newcastle will continue to honour him throughout the summer, including before their opening Premier League fixture against Liverpool at St James’ Park on August 23.
Keegan’s passing brings profound sadness. He lifted Newcastle United out of years of mediocrity, led the club into the Premier League and transformed the way it saw itself. Yet sadness alone does not capture his legacy. Kevin Keegan made Newcastle dream, and pre-season is a time for dreaming—even if today’s result is best forgotten.
Are any of the under-21s ready to break through?
In short, probably not.
Sean Neave, the 19-year-old striker, Alex Murphy, the 22-year-old defender, and Leo Shahar, the 19-year-old full-back, all started against Gateshead and have spent considerable time training with the first team. Each performed solidly, with Neave particularly busy in attack, but all three would probably benefit from spending the coming season out on loan.
Several under-21 players were introduced during the second half, including 21-year-old defender Miodrag Pivas, 19-year-old winger Park Seung-soo and 17-year-old midfielder Mason Miley, the younger brother of Lewis Miley.
None of them were on the pitch long enough to make a major impression. At this early stage of pre-season, many of the younger players are simply filling gaps in the squad. With all four of Newcastle’s summer signings aged 20 or under, Howe is already working with a very youthful player pool.
Abdulhafiz Teslim
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