Newcastle will face Benfica at Estadio da Luz on Tuesday night (8pm kick-off) for what is set to be their toughest test of pre-season so far.
In total, 24 players were involved in the training matches against Burnley on Saturday including Matty Bondswell and Santiago Munoz.
Under-21s players Jay Turner-Cooke and Alex Murphy have also made the journey to Portugal but aren’t expected to feature.
In terms of first team players, Martin Dubravka, Chris Wood, Jamal Lewis, Fabian Schar, Federico Fernandez and Kell Watts all missed the training session with Burnley and it remains to be seen whether they will be involved against Benfica on Tuesday night.
Several players are facing uncertain futures at Newcastle this summer and will be keen to impress while away this pre-season.
For others, it’s about securing a place in the starting line-up for the opening day of the Premier League season against Nottingham Forest on August 6.
Every player will want to make an impact in pre-season ahead of an important campaign for Newcastle. But there are some whose future or place in the side could be dictated by the impact they make this July.
After facing Benfica, The Magpies will return to the North East to host Atalanta and Athletic Bilbao at St James’s Park on July 29 and July 30 respectively.
9. Elliot Anderson - a point to prove
The pressure is off Anderson as such this pre-season with Newcastle open to loaning him out. But if he continues to impress like he did off the bench against Mainz, then he could convince Howe to keep him around. | Getty Images
10. Kelland Watts - a point to prove
Got 90 minutes under his belt against Gateshead but hasn’t featured since. With his future uncertain, he will have to make an impact while out in Portugal or he is likely to be loaned out again. Photo: Charlotte Tattersall
11. Miguel Almiron - a point to prove
The Paraguayan is Newcastle’s top scorer in pre-season with braces against Gateshead and Burnley behind closed doors. Despite scoring one of Newcastle’s goals of the season, Almiron struggled to secure a consistent place in the starting line-up. The club are also looking to strengthen out wide which could see him fall down the pecking order. But if he continues his scoring form out in Portugal then he will give Howe little option other than to start him on the opening day. Photo: Ian MacNicol
12. Joe Willock - a point to prove
This is an important pre-season for Joe Willock. He has effectively spent the past year and a half playing at Newcastle but is yet to experience a pre-season at the club. He missed almost all of pre-season last campaign and it certainly had a knock-on impact regarding his performances. He has already scored three times in pre-season and will have to keep up his performances in order to be in with a chance of a start on the opening day. Photo: PAUL ELLIS