TON OF TOON STAFF OFF TO SAUDI

NEWCASTLE are planning to take around 100 staff on their midwinter break to Saudi Arabia next month, with a series of meetings planned with the club’s owners.

Eddie Howe took his first-team squad to Jeddah for a training camp last January, but the forthcoming trip to Riyadh is a much bigger operation, with members of the club’s executive, commercial and marketing teams also due to travel. In addition to training, Howe’s side will face Saudi Pro League champions Al-Hilal in a friendly.