RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 05: Jonjo Shelvey celebrates after winning a warm up game during the Newcastle United Training Session at the Al Hilal FC Training Centre on December 05, 2022 in Riyadh. (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 05: Jonjo Shelvey celebrates after winning a warm up game during the Newcastle United Training Session at the Al Hilal FC Training Centre on December 05, 2022 in Riyadh. (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 05: Jonjo Shelvey celebrates after winning a warm up game during the Newcastle United Training Session at the Al Hilal FC Training Centre on December 05, 2022 in Riyadh. (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)

Newcastle United’s confirmed 28-man squad in Saudi Arabia: Eddie Howe includes five under-21s - gallery

Newcastle United are in Saudi Arabia for a warm weather training camp and friendly match against champions Al-Hilal.

Newcastle will face the Saudi Pro League champions on Thursday (5pm kick-off GMT) with Eddie Howe bringing a squad of 28 players over to the Gulf state.

The Magpies currently have five players unavailable due to being at the World Cup in Qatar. Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson, Nick Pope, Fabian Schar and Bruno Guimaraes are all representing their countries.

But in nearby Saudi Arabia, Newcastle have the rest of their senior squad as well as five promising under-21s players.

Discussing their inclusion, Howe told NUFC TV: “We love to train with 20 players so we wanted to get that ideal number. We want to give an opportunity to young players as well and I think those players who are with us are the ones that deserve to be.

“I won’t speak about them individually but they’ve all got qualities and they all offer something for the now and for the future. It will be a brilliant experience for them and hopefully one they remember for the rest of their lives.”

Here is the confirmed Newcastle United squad for the December tour in Saudi Arabia...

But in nearby Saudi Arabia, Newcastle have the rest of their senior squad as well as five promising under-21s players.