Newcastle United set to confirm deal for 'incredible' player as Eddie Howe drops hint

It’s fair to say Mark Gillespie got more than what he bargained for when he replaced Nick Pope with five minutes to go at the Melbourne Cricket Ground!

Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United had seemingly settled for a 1-1 draw as each manager made wholesale changes in the second-half, blissfully unaware that the exhibition match would indeed be decided by penalties.

There was barely a senior face in sight as the referee blew for full-time. A back four consisted of Harrison Ashby, Alex Murphy, Ciaran Thompson and Dylan Charlton. Joe White, Lucas De Bolle and Travis Hernes formed the midfield while Amadou Diallo, Ben Parkinson and debutant Garang Kuol established a three-man attack.

By default, the captain’s armband was passed to Gillespie on his first senior appearance for almost four years. That, in many ways, might have been enough for Gillespie, captaining his boyhood club and all that, but the 32-year-old made it an evening to remember in more ways than one.

After previously playing his part in United’s Carabao Cup shootout victory away to Newport County in September 2020 - which was subsequently his last competitive outing - the former Carlisle United goalkeeper was on the winning side again.

Gillespie guessed the right way to deny the most senior player on the pitch Bryan Gil, once a £21million signing form Sevilla. And it proved decisive as Newcastle’s young gun White, Parkinson, Diallo, Kuol Ashby showed their Premier League counterparts how its done.

It wasn’t no cup final win, nor did it matter really, but it was a special moment for Gillespie - so iconic it prompted Dan Burn to immediately sprint onto the pitch to hilariously embrace his fellow Geordie! And speaking after the game, Howe paid tribute to Gillespie.

“The work this guy has put in this season is just incredible,” Howe told NUFCTV. “Too often we always talk about the players that are playing but never enough about the players aren’t playing who contribute so much and Mark is one of those.

“His attitude to training is ridiculous every day. You’re on the end of a lot of shots, aren’t you? Day in, day out, he is always there for the players to help them get better and you need a goalkeeper that be there, train everyday and be consistent as Mark is.

“These experiences for Mark, I’m so pleased for him for what he gives every day. There are a lot of players like Mark in the squad who characterise our success. So I just wanted to say that to Mark and share that moment with him.”

It is often said by Newcastle fans that Gillespie has the best job in the world because of his lack of game time.

But Howe sees value beyond playing time, and that is why the Magpies are set to announce a 12-month contract extension for the former Motherwell man in the coming weeks.