Even so, though, after a difficult start to the summer, Newcastle United could have done without crashing to a 4-0 defeat at Celtic this afternoon, with Alexander Isak’s absence from the squad at Parkhead adding to the sense of unease that has descended on Eddie Howe and his side since the end of last season.
Anthony Elanga’s £52m move from Nottingham Forest is the only piece of incoming transfer business completed by Howe and the rest of Newcastle’s recruitment team, who continue to operate without a sporting director, and while the winger made his first appearance for the Magpies in the second half in Glasgow, the absence of any other new faces felt concerning.
Isak’s absence was even more worrying, for all that Newcastle officials were quick to insist that the Swede’s non-appearance was a case of “managing his minutes” rather than anything relating to the ongoing speculation over his future.
Joelinton and Tino Livramento were absent for the same reason, but given Liverpool’s ongoing attempts to prise Isak from Tyneside, not to mention the recent speculation linking the striker with a possible move to Saudi Arabia, the fact he was nowhere to be seen felt significant. It will certainly be interesting to see whether he is present for Newcastle’s forthcoming matches in Singapore and South Korea.
Howe selected a strong starting line-up for his side’s first friendly outing, with Will Osula leading the line between Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes, and Lewis Miley playing alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Joe Willock as part of a midfield trio.
With 10,000 Newcastle fans having journeyed north to Glasgow, the atmosphere was bristling from the off, with the off-field intensity ensuring the game was played at a decent tempo. This might have been a pre-season friendly, but there was an edge to proceedings.
Newcastle began in a lively fashion, with Fabian Schar volleying their first opportunity over the top after a cross from Matt Targett.
Osula caught the eye on a number of occasions in the first half, leading the line in an aggressive, committed fashion, and the Danish youngster, who spent the first part of the summer playing in the European Under-21 Championships came close to breaking the deadlock midway through the first half.
He showed commendable strength to hold off his marker after Willock slipped the ball into his path, but Kasper Schmeichel turned his subsequent shot over the crossbar.
Celtic have been to Portugal and Ireland so far this summer, and Brendan Rodgers’ side displayed a sharpness that ensured Newcastle were given a decent defensive test.
Nick Pope had to be at his most alert to prevent Fabian Schar putting the ball into his own net after Hyunjun Yang drove past Targett on the Celtic right, but the Newcastle goalkeeper was unable to prevent the hosts opening the scoring from the spot in the 28th minute.
Willock fouled Johnny Kenny from behind after Celtic broke down their left-hand side and Arne Engels stepped up to successfully convert his penalty.
Osula was unable to equalise despite rounding Schmeichel shortly before the break – his effort from a wide angle was cleared from just in front of the goalline – and Newcastle fell further behind when Pope dropped a major clanger on the stroke of half-time.
The Newcastle goalkeeper left his area to try to head away a long ball over the top from Schmeichel, but failed to make any contact at all with the ball. Kenny strolled in behind him, and was left with the easy task of rolling into an empty net. It was hardly the confidence booster that Pope would have wanted as Newcastle ponder what to do about their goalkeeping situation, with talks over Burnley’s James Trafford continuing to stall.
Howe made nine changes at the break – Osula and Lewis Miley were the only players to remain on the field – but Celtic continued to carve the Magpies defence apart, particularly on the counter-attack, and the Scottish side claimed a third goal seven minutes into the second half.
A swift break upfield saw Daizen Maeda slide over a low cross from the left, and an unmarked Yang was able to stroke home at the back post.
That wasn’t the end of the scoring, with Celtic adding a fourth goal with 15 minutes left. Kieran Tierney, returning to Parkhead after leaving Arsenal earlier this summer, crossed from the left, and Liam Scales outjumped a static Newcastle defence to head home.
NEWCASTLE (4-3-3): Pope (Dubravka 46); Trippier (Krafth 46), Schar (Lascelles 46), Botman (Burn 46), Targett (A Murphy 46); Miley (Hernes 76), Guimaraes (Tonali 46), Willock (White 46); J Murphy (Elanga 46), Osula (Neave 76), Barnes (Gordon 46).
Subs (not used): Ruddy, Ashby, Munda.