Pre-season so important for Eddie's Magpies

NEWCASTLE United boss Eddie Howe enjoyed the dream preseason in 2022 when he took his troops to Saalfelden in Austria.

- By LEE RYDER

Back then, and before the arrival of key commercial figures such as Peter Silverstone, Howe was able to almost have a free hit at a sporting preparation for the new season ahead. A training camp with the backdrop of the Alps provided a stunning and dramatic location for Howe and his players.

But the clean air and fresh streams would offer more than just a picturesque trip to remember for the squad. Howe had everything he wanted, with double sessions each day, a secluded training HQ used by Liverpool the year before and two friendly matches against 1860 Munich and Mainz 05.

Players would happily cycle to training from the hotel, while Howe even had his own groundstaff jetted in to look after the training pitches and match-day surfaces. The music blared out in the sunshine as the players got to work beneath the Leogang Mountains.