Boss is hoping to see goals start going in
EDDIE Howe and Newcastle United set off for Portugal yesterday for part two of the club’s summer training camp - with the Toon boss hoping his squad can sharpen up in the final third.
The Magpies could not force a breakthrough against Mainz 05 in Monday’s 1-0 defeat and did not score in the first 45 minutes against 1860 Munich before eventually going on to win 3-0.
Newcastle will have two more chances to improve their goalscoring prowess during the trip to Portugal and despite setting off without another new forward through the door Howe praised the frontmen he already has in Callum Wilson, Allan Saint-Maximin, Chris Wood, Ryan Fraser and Miguel Almiron.
He said: “We always want creativity, first day last day, we want to score goals and create chances, that is how we want to play.
“It was a difficult pitch, it was so hot and the ball was slow, so when you are the team trying to make the game that is not easy - but saying that we have very good players and should be doing a little bit better than we did.”
Howe insisted it was not all about the final third and he was pleased with the way his team defended in Austria last week as well as the efforts of his midfield.
He added: “We are working on all aspects of our game, we cannot focus on one. We have to be very good out of possession, we have to be very good in possession.
“We were more controlled against Mainz until the last third. I thought we controlled transitions well and athletically we looked good despite the fatigue we had.
“But yeah in front of goal we did not create chances or open Mainz up. We played against a team which operated with a deep lock on a slow pitch, that is easier said than done.
“It was against good opposition and these are the tests you want.
“I am not worried by the defeat it is always about performance.”