Newcastle United player ratings: 'Top quality' 9/10 & 'wasteful' 6/10 as Joe Willock impresses vs Urawa

Howe made two changes from the 2-0 win at Hull City on Saturday with Joe Willock making his first start since April after recovering from an Achilles injury. Sean Longstaff was the other change as Jamie Miley and Jamal Lewis made way.

Odysseas Vlachodimos, John Ruddy and the returning Miguel Almiron were the only senior players on the bench with the rest filled with youngsters Jamie Miley, Jay Turner-Cooke, Cathal Heffernan, Ben Parkinson, Alfie Harrison and Trevan Sanusi.

That meant there was no place for the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Fabian Schar, Martin Dubravka and summer signing Lloyd Kelly, who are all expected to feature in Saturday’s match against Yokohama F. Marinos.

Isak opened the scoring just two minutes with a strike into the bottom left corner. It was the Swede’s third goal in as many pre-season matches. Rio Nitta then drew the hosts level in the 25th minute when he flicked home Yusuke Matsuo’s low cross.

Moments later, the hosts were handed a dubious penalty when Tino Livramento was adjudged to have made a foul inside the box, although replays showed it did take place outside.

Nevertheless, justice was done when Nick Pope denied Tomoaki Okubo. The United goalkeeper then did superbly to keep the scoreline level when he stood up to Nitta’s powerful effort.

Having been on the back foot for the majority of the first-half, Newcastle regained the lead on the brink of half-time when Murphy slotted home. Like Isak, the goal was his third in three pre-season games.

Murphy then added his second shortly after the break when he cut inside to finish with his left foot. A fourth arrived via Lewis Hall’s deflected effort from distance.

Here’s our Newcastle United players - live from the Saitama Stadium.

Our Newcastle United writer Jordan Cronin is there all week, providing coverage of the tour, behind the scenes video and analysis from Tokyo. 

And we’re proud to announce that our Newcastle United coverage of the tour has a sponsor! Every story from Japan is sponsored by Mobility Care Solutions Ltd, with the shop’s official mascot Murphy!

Eddie Howe's men take on Urawa Red Diamonds at the Saitama Stadium on Wednesday, July 31. They then face J.League runners-up Yokohama F. Marinos on Saturday, August 3.

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