Matthias Jaissle has insisted that Newcastle’s new crop of “under pressure” young players command his “full confidence” and hopes that supporters and reporters will start exhibiting similar belief. Eddie Howe’s successor is preparing for his first Premier League game at St James’ Park on Sunday when Liverpool are the visitors. While the former Newcastle striker Alexander Isak – who left for £125m last summer – is expected to lead Andoni Iraola’s attacking line, Jaissle could give competitive debuts to up to three of his club’s four summer signings who are aged 20 or under.
Asked what percentage they were currently up to, Jaissle turned a little coy. That’s normal when you consider the circumstances around us. We are smart and realistic.
But we are also ambitious.” While Amar Dedic has at least arrived on Tyneside this week and will start at right-back after a £30m move from Benfica, Jaissle offered no hints as to the identity of Isak’s marker on an afternoon when, after both sets of fans pay tribute to the late Kevin Keegan, the Sweden striker will be braced for an extremely hostile reception. I don’t know him as a human being but the important thing is that our lads just focus on themselves.” Newcastle’s manager was delighted at the club’s long-awaited announcement on Thursday that, subject to planning permission, they will move into a brand new, £190m, training facility at Woolsington Hall, near Newcastle airport, for the start of the 2029-30 season. More immediately, Jaissle is spending most of his time at the team’s current training base in the city’s Benton suburb.
The new training ground will be a world-class facility and will set the standards for this ambitious club.” Not that his transition from life in Jeddah has been completely devoid of culture shock. He is a legend at Liverpool too, so this combination is special. Everyone in the stadium will show him a tribute on Sunday.”
Extract — continue reading at the source.
