As the summer of preparations winds down, Newcastle’s pre-season ended on a sour note with a 2-0 home defeat to Atletico Madrid at St James’ Park.
The Spanish side came out strong in the second half, scoring through Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann to secure the win.
It’s been a frustrating pre-season for the Magpies — six games, zero wins.
I was at the ground to soak it all in and here are the five key takeaways from the game and what they mean as the Premier League season approaches.
Anthony Gordon Injury Raises Alarms
The biggest talking point after the final whistle wasn’t just the loss — it was the injury to Anthony Gordon.
The England international, who’s been Eddie Howe’s preferred striker choice with Alexander Isak out and unsettled, had to leave the pitch late in the game.
Gordon went down clutching his leg, clearly in discomfort, and had treatment for a couple of minutes before limping off.
Although he managed to walk to the sidelines, he headed straight to the tunnel with the physio, leaving fans and the manager anxious.
After a tricky year with ups and downs, Gordon was eager to kick off this season strong, so any injury news will be a real worry for both player and club.
Newcastle Still Hunting for a Reliable No. 9
While we wait on updates about Gordon’s fitness, we did get a good look at what Newcastle’s attacking front line might start like this season — even if it’s not the traditional setup.
With Gordon leading as the striker, flanked by wingers Anthony Elanga and Harvey Barnes, the team showed plenty of pace and energy.
Yet, despite the hustle, they never really looked like scoring the way Newcastle did when Isak was leading the line last season.
It’s clear the Magpies desperately need a specialist striker to balance the side.
Gordon has impressed this summer, but it leaves the question: how effective is this makeshift front line? Elanga’s bursts of speed were exciting but didn’t translate into enough clear chances.
Newcastle’s goal-scoring issues won’t fix themselves without bringing in a true No. 9.
Defender Malick Thiaw Set to Join Newcastle
On the brighter side, Newcastle fans can look forward to reinforcements in defense.
The club is closing in on a £34.3 million deal to bring in German centre-back Malick Thiaw from AC Milan.
The 24-year-old is expected on Tyneside soon for his medical.
Thiaw will add serious competition at the back, increasing Newcastle’s options to five central defenders.
Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles started here, with Fabian Schar and Dan Burn featuring in the recent friendly against Espanyol.
Long term, Thiaw is seen as the right-sided defensive partner to eventually replace Schar, who’s nearing his mid-thirties.
His arrival likely puts an end to the ongoing chase for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, who was a target last summer.
As a fun side note, supporters joked after the match — given Thiaw’s towering 6ft 4in frame — has he ever been used as a striker?
Sandro Tonali Shows Why He’s Vital
Midfield maestro Sandro Tonali once again proved why he’s so crucial to Newcastle’s plans.
Last season, I picked him as the team’s player of the year, especially after Howe shifted him into a deep-lying No. 6 role.
Against tough opposition, Tonali looked composed, technically sharp, and athletic — truly the best midfielder on the pitch.
Joelinton also looked solid coming back from knee trouble, and with Bruno Guimaraes set to return for the Premier League opener against Aston Villa next weekend, Newcastle’s midfield duo will be back in sync.
Howe will be hoping this core group can bring stability to the team after some rocky weeks both on and off the pitch.
Kieran Trippier Proves He’s Still Top Class
Finally, Kieran Trippier’s performance was another highlight.
Facing his former club, he looked sharp and ready for the season ahead.
There was uncertainty about whether he’d still be at Newcastle after last season, but now it seems pretty certain he’ll start as the first-choice right back.
Trippier remains one of the club’s standout signings and will be key for Newcastle as they navigate what could be a challenging start to the campaign.