Newcastle United finalise pre-season plans ahead of September 12 Premier League start

Steve Bruce’s side conclude their year-long campaign on Sunday with a home game against Liverpool.

United’s head coach and his staff have finalised their plans for pre-season, which will start after a three-week break.

Bruce’s players will condense their preparations for the 2020/21 campaign into an intense three-week programme which will feature a training camp and a number of behind-closed-doors friendlies.

“We’re going to have a three-week break, and then we’ll have a three-week programme,” said Bruce. “Usually it’s six or seven weeks. I think we’ll just replicate what we’ve just done in the last few months. It’s important people get a break.”

The Premier League, which was suspended for three months this season due to the coronavirus pandemic, will return on September 12 following a shareholders meeting today. The final round of matches will take place on May 23, and the Premier League is consulting the Football Association and the EFL over the staging of the cup competitions.

"We’ll have a break for three weeks,” said Bruce. “It’s vitally important the players have a break, then we’ll have a three-week programme similar to what we’ve been through.

"It’s difficult, but I do think it’s vitally important that everyone needs a break. During lockdown, they continued a programme which was pretty physical.”

Newcastle travelled to China for the Premier League Asia Trophy last summer.