Newcastle have enjoyed a solid pre-season so far with comfortable wins against Gateshead and 1860 Munich followed by a narrow 1-0 defeat to Mainz 05 in Austria. They also got the better of Championship side Burnley in a training match in Portugal over the weekend.
They now prepare for arguably their toughest pre-season test against last season’s Champions League quarter-finalists Benfica at Estadio da Luz.
Pre-season presents an ideal opportunity for Howe to experiment and mix the team up, making predicting the side’s starting line-up almost impossible.
But given the level of opposition and the Eusebio Cup being on the table, Howe will be looking to start with a strong side.
13. Emil Krafth - 6
On for Trippier 46: Got into some decent areas going forward but didn’t do much with the ball. Photo: Ian MacNicol
14. Fabian Schar - 7
On for Lascelles 46: Was rarely troubled at the back following his introduction. Photo: Gareth Copley
15. Dan Burn - 6
On for Botman: Kept Benfica relatively quiet in the second half but was beaten for pace for the winning goal. Booked. Photo: Mike Hewitt
16. Matty Bondswell - 7
On for Targett 46: A mature and composed first-team outing for the 20-year-old left-back. Held his own against a top European side. Photo: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA