A round-up of your Newcastle United headlines on Tuesday, December 13.
Huge crowd expected for Rayo Vallecano friendly
Newcastle United will be welcomed back to St James' Park by a huge crowd at the weekend - with just a few seats available for Saturday's friendly against Rayo Vallecano.
This will be Newcastle's final warm-up game before the Magpies' season gets back under way next week following the World Cup break. Although there is a quick turnaround between the fixtures, after the Carabao Cup tie against Bournemouth was brought forward by 24 hours because of planned NHS strike action, Eddie Howe will certainly be taking the Rayo friendly seriously. The Newcastle boss, after all, once said that there is 'no such thing as a dead game' for his side.
The game will also form a crucial part of Newcastle's preparations for the restart as the Magpies' first home fixture since the 1-0 win against Chelsea five weeks previously, which was the hosts' final game before the World Cup break, and supporters are clearly itching to back into St James'.
READ MORE: Bruno Guimaraes' emotional words will reassure Newcastle as wounded animal set to be unleashed
Some areas of the stadium at Level 7, admittedly, appear to be 'locked', as it is only a friendly, but there were just 502 seats available online in the Leazes End, three seats in the East Stand and a couple of seats in the Gallowgate as of Tuesday morning along with a further 14 premium tickets in hospitality.
Read more, here.
FA Youth Cup draw revealed
Newcastle United have been handed a home tie in the FA Youth Cup fourth round against seven-times winners Arsenal or Millwall. The young Magpies booked their place in the fourth round following a 3-2 win on the road at Charlton Athletic.
Graeme Carrick's side will host either the Gunners or the Lions - who are set to face each other on Saturday, 17th December - before Saturday, 21st January 2023 with a date to be confirmed in due course
To be eligible for the 2022/23 FA Youth Cup tournament players must have been born on or after 1 September, 2004 and before 1 September, 2007.
Read more, here.
Barton slams Southgate following World Cup exit
Joey Barton has urged the FA to pull the trigger on England manager Gareth Southgate. Pressure is growing on the Three Lions chief after the 2-1 defeat to France at the World Cup.
Debates have now emerged about whether Southgate should lead the team into the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign. After reaching the Euro 2020 final at Wembley 18 months ago - England’s first at a major tournament since 1966 - the FA handed him a contract extension.
Not one to shirk his opinion, former Newcastle United midfielder Barton has demanded Southgate to either resign - or walk the plank. Posting on his Twitter account, the Bristol Rovers boss also mentioned the infamous Pizza Hut advert Southgate starred in after missing a penalty against Germany at Euro 96.
“(I) can’t believe Southgate hasn’t resigned yet,” Barton tweeted. “That’s two World Cups and a home European Championship we could/should have won. Stop rewarding failure. (He has) got to go. Time to hire somebody who can win. Pizza Hut advert years ago. Enough said.
Read more, here.
Wilson breaks England silence
Newcastle United star Callum Wilson says England will 'come back stronger' after exiting the 2022 World Cup at the quarter-final stage over the weekend. The Three Lions crashed out of the Qatar showpiece at the hands of reigning champions France, losing 2-1 following an Olivier Giroud winner.
Wilson played a minor role in England's campaign with two substitute appearances in the group stage. A minor knock kept him out of the latter stages of the tournament, much to the disappointment of Newcastle fans.
Taking to Instagram after the defeat, Wilson wrote: "Not the ending any of us wanted but anything worth having never comes easy so we keep on fighting and come back stronger again!
Read more, here.
Maddison tipped for St. James' Park move
Newcastle United have made a stellar start to the Premier League campaign and that hasn't gone unnoticed. Eddie Howe's side have made the rest of the division sit up and take not, having lost just once since the season started back in August.
The Magpies have beaten Chelsea and drawn against Manchester City and Manchester United, with their only defeat coming on the road at Anfield at the end of August. Alexander Isak gave the Magpies the lead against Liverpool, only for a second-half comeback to see three points slip through their grasp.
There have been conflicting reports over whether the Magpies intend to strengthen again in January. The arrival of Isak saw Newcastle spend in the region of £58 million and he'll be like a new signing when he returns.
Sky Bet has compiled a list of seven players who could make the move to St. James' Park. Some are more realistic than others. Leicester City's James Maddison has the shortest odds of any players linked with Newcastle United at 7/4.
Read more, here.
READ NEXT
- Newcastle's secret manager meeting and the unthinkable Alan Shearer talks
- Kieran Trippier's response after Pickford tried to embarrass Newcastle star in front of Beckham
- Newcastle unearth talents who all have got 'something to offer' including exciting 16-year-old
- Newcastle find 'mentality monster' who Liverpool know very well and Eddie Howe wants deal done
- Newcastle owners may have got glimpse of future and angry player reactions Eddie Howe will love
