Jaissle’s First Match in Charge
Newcastle United is set to face Valencia in a pre-season friendly at the Estadio de Mestalla. The match marks the first time Matthias Jaissle will take charge of Newcastle as head coach. Jaissle, formerly with Red Bull Salzburg and Al-Ahli, was appointed after Eddie Howe departed the club earlier in the summer.
The German coach will have his initial opportunity to implement his tactical philosophy with the squad. Newcastle enters this fixture following a varied run of pre-season results, which included a 3-0 victory against Darlington, a 1-1 draw with Gateshead, and a 4-1 defeat to Championship club Bristol City.
The team’s pre-season schedule also includes upcoming matches against Everton, Bayer Leverkusen, and Strasbourg before the commencement of the Premier League season. Jaissle is overseeing a significantly altered squad compared to the previous term, with notable departures including Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali, and Kieran Trippier.
Team News and Line-ups
For Newcastle, the confirmed line-up sees a debut in goal for Lukáš Horníček, who recently joined from Braga. Serbian defender Miodrag Pivaš, 21, makes his first start for the club. Pivaš arrived on Tyneside two years ago from Jedinstvo Ub.
The defensive line also features Leo Shahar, Sven Botman, and Malick Thiaw, who is celebrating his 25th birthday and will captain the team. In midfield, summer signing Aladji Bamba is paired with Jacob Ramsey, while Harvey Barnes and Anthony Elanga are positioned on the wings. Upfront, Nick Woltemade and William Osula are the central attackers.
Several players are unavailable for Newcastle. Lewis Hall is not being risked due to a knock, and Fabian Schär and Alex Murphy are ruled out. Tino Livramento underwent minor surgery earlier in the summer. Dan Burn is expected to report back next week after his involvement with England reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Among the substitutes for Newcastle is Newbottle-born teenage defender Henry Johnson, who can play at centre-half or full-back and signed his first professional contract this summer. Dylan Charlton is also included in the squad. Other players hoping for playing time to impress Jaissle include Joelinton, Yoane Wissa, Sean Steur, Bazo mana Touré, Jacob Murphy, Joe Willock, Rory Finneran, Sean Neave, and Mason Miley, with the Premier League season approaching.
The substitute goalkeepers are Mark Gillespie and Aidan Harris. Valencia also faces significant absences, with Diego Lopez and Sergi Canos dealing with long-term injuries. Dimitri Foulquier, Luis Rioja, and Umar Sadiq are also sidelined. The match may come too soon for Alberto Mari, who is recovering from a hamstring issue.
Match Details and Broadcast Information
The friendly match between Valencia and Newcastle is scheduled for Saturday, 8 August, with kick-off at 8pm BST. The game will be available for viewers to watch live on newcastleunited.com and via the official Newcastle United App.
Valencia finished ninth in La Liga last term. The upcoming fixture provides an opportunity for Jaissle to assess his new squad and integrate his ideas ahead of the competitive season. The match is a key part of Newcastle’s pre-season preparations, following a period of training in La Manga.
The squad has been working with the new head coach over the past few days in La Manga, preparing for this initial test. The Premier League season kick-off is just over a fortnight away from this fixture.
Source: newcastleunited.com
