Newcastle United report for Christmas Day training ahead of Leicester City trip

Newcastle United will train on Christmas Day ahead of the Premier League trip to Leicester City.
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Eddie Howe and his Newcastle United players will report for Christmas Day training later this afternoon as part of their final preparations for the trip to Leicester City.

The Magpies resume their Premier League campaign at the King Power Stadium on Boxing Day tomorrow - and Howe’s squad have prepared pretty much as normal.

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The only difference is United will train in the afternoon instead of the morning to allow players time with their families before travelling down to the Midlands.

“I won’t go too much into detail about my Christmas,” Howe said. “For the players, I think we’re going to report later so they have the morning with their families, and then we’ll train and leave (for Leicester).”

Both Newcastle and Leicester were among the division’s most in-form teams before the World Cup break.

“I think they’re a top team with a top manager,” Howe said on Leicester. “That never changes, in my opinion, even though they had a difficult start to the season.

Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe. (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images)Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe. (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images)
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe. (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images)
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“The quality of Brendan’s work always shines through on his teams and if you look at their players, not a dramatic amount has changed from the team that has excelled in previous years.

“We respect them immensely, they’re a very good football team. I think now the confidence has returned and they’re a very dangerous opponent for us.”

The visit to Leicester is the start of a busy festive period for Newcastle, who host Leeds United at St James’ Park on New Year’s Eve before facing Arsenal away on January 3.

Asked about the festive period, Howe said: As a player, I loved it. I loved the festive games. I loved the atmosphere. They’ve always had a different feeling about them than the normal programme.

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“As a manager, your focus is different, you’re not experiencing those emotions, you’re feeling the preparation, the short turnaround and worrying about fatigue in your group. I have no issues with it, I think it is part of what makes the Premier League and English football special.

“My only thought would be we don’t want games too close together where the players then can’t execute their best performances in the next game.”