Training camp will help new boys settle in
SVEN Botman and Nick Pope will adapt to life with Newcastle United quicker thanks to training with the squad in Austria.
That is the view of defender Matt Targett, who believes that their ‘tough’ pre-season regime will reap dividends as the Premier League campaign progresses.
Dutch defender Botman and England international goalkeeper Pope both joined United this summer, following former Magpies loanee Targett through the door at St James’ Park.
The entire first-team squad recently went to Austria for a pair of friendlies, against 1860 Munich and Mainz, as well as their pre-season training camp.
Since Newcastle’s Saudi-backed ownership group arrived last October, the club has brought in a whole new defence, with Dan Burn and Kieran Trippier arriving in January.
And Targett said he believes playing together now will help them all in the future.
“It’s been a very good trip in terms of fitness, training as a group and team spirit,” he said. “It’s been massive for Nick [Pope] and Sven [Botman] because you get to know what they’re like as characters.
“Training has been really tough. I’m sure it’ll ease down now the games are coming thick and fast.
“When you start upping the minutes, you get back into the swing of it and it puts you in good shape.
“We’ll take that into next week and then the Portugal trip and we’ll be ready come the first game of the season.”
Eddie Howe’s side have three more pre-season games before the big kick-off against Nottingham Forest on August 6, with games against Benfica, Atalanta and Athletic Bilbao to come.
They will look to bounce back from a 1-0 defeat against Mainz last time out, with Dutchman Delano Burgzorg scoring the only goal.
It could have been a different story, though, had the Magpies shown more composure in front of goal.
Chris Wood – another of the club’s January signings – failed to capitalise on two golden chances, winger Jacob Murphy was unable to guide Emil Krafth’s cross towards goal and England international forward Callum Wilson was denied by Mainz goalkeeper Finn Dahmen.
“We’re disappointed to lose the game,” Targett added. “We had enough good chances to win the game for sure but we weren’t clinical enough in the end.”