Squad is built on most solid of foundations
UNCERTAINTY has again served as the familiar backdrop at Newcastle United in recent months.
The Magpies’ prospective takeover dragged on before collapsing and, as is the case at most clubs, the Black and Whites’ summer budget has been slashed because of coronavirus.
However, there has been one certainty on the field.
Rather than completely ripping up the foundations that predecessor Rafa Benitez laid, Steve Bruce is keen to build on them.
We may never know what Newcastle’s summer plans were before Covid-19 wreaked havoc but it would have been a huge surprise if Bruce moved on any of those firstteam regulars he has come to rely on.
This summer originally offered the head coach the chance to oversee an overhaul - a number of players were due to be out of contract but he has been keen to keep players rather than release them after having time to assess this group.
The class of 2017 all still have important roles to play and it was rather telling when the Magpies’ head coach switched to a back four against Burnley, in February, Isaac Hayden, Matt Ritchie and Dwight Gayle all came back into the side.
The trio, who helped Newcastle win the Championship title three years ago, have played most games ever since.
Ten survivors from that title win are being put through their paces at the club’s pre-season training camp near York.
It would be a surprise if that number dwindled dramatically by the time the Magpies head to the London Stadium for their opening game of the season against West Ham next month.
Bruce has been keen to keep that core together - Jonjo Shelvey and Ritchie were handed new deals in March - and it has been quite telling a number of players aged between 28 and 31 have had their contracts extended since he took charge.
There is a spirit within this group Bruce has tapped into and the Newcastle head coach generally knows what he is going to get from a committed squad. That cannot be overstated.
As well as keeping the bulk of the squad together, it is clear Bruce is looking to bring in players who will not only be able to hit the ground running, given the short turnaround, but who will also be able to buy into the hard-working mentality which has long been established in the dressing room.
Jeff Hendrick has been a key member of spirited groups with Burnley and Ireland and at the heart of the midfielder’s rise to becoming a Premier League footballer has been that thirst to better himself, to better his previous efforts in the gym.
Mark Gillespie may not be a firstchoice goalkeeper next season, which is a fairly new situation for him, but the boyhood Newcastle fan is desperate to push both Martin Dubravka and Karl Darlow as much as he can.
Therefore, it should not come as a surprise Gillespie has spent the last three weeks aiming to be as fit and as strong as he can ahead of his first pre-season with the Magpies.
Expect all of Newcastle’s signings this summer to share that type of hunger.