Newcastle United's pre-season campaign takes shape as club assesses training camp options

Newcastle United’s pre-season campaign is slowly taking shape.
Miles Starforth
By Miles Starforth
Published 18th Jun 2021, 12:00 BST
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The club today confirmed a fourth friendly against League One club Rotherham United at the AESSEAL New York Stadium on Tuesday, July 27 (7pm kick-off).

Newcastle had already announced fixtures against Burton Albion, York City and Harrogate Town.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Steve Bruce’s Premier League squad is being split for the York and Harrogate games, which will both be staged on Sunday, July 18. The Burton game is on Friday, July 30 (7.45pm).

Most Popular
ROTHERHAM, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: General view inside the stadium prior to the Sky Bet Championship match between Rotherham United and Coventry City at AESSEAL New York Stadium on April 15, 2021 in Rotherham, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)ROTHERHAM, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: General view inside the stadium prior to the Sky Bet Championship match between Rotherham United and Coventry City at AESSEAL New York Stadium on April 15, 2021 in Rotherham, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
ROTHERHAM, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: General view inside the stadium prior to the Sky Bet Championship match between Rotherham United and Coventry City at AESSEAL New York Stadium on April 15, 2021 in Rotherham, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

United have played once before at Rotherham’s 12,201-capacity home. A goal from Christian Atsu gave the club a 1-0 win in the Championship in the 2016/17 season during Rafa Benitez’s time as manager.

Rotherham signed midfielder Dan Barlaser from Newcastle last summer. The club was relegated from the Championship on the final day of last season.

Meanwhile, Newcastle are yet to confirm plans for a pre-season training camp next month.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A training camp in Portugal has been mooted as an option by Bruce, but the foreign travel is complicated by coronavirus travel and quarantine restrictions, and the club, which spent a week training in York last year, may again stay on home soil given that Portugal is no longer on the Government’s “green list” of countries.

Speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle last month, head coach Bruce said: “I would think if we went away, there wouldn’t be any games – it wouldn’t be wise to play games, and have people travelling. We’re looking at a couple of camps – one in this country, and one in Portugal.”

Related topics:BBC Radio NewcastleRotherham UnitedSteve BruceLeague OneYork