Newcastle United's CEO David Hopkinson and sporting director Ross Wilson are set to face over 2,000 fans at the We Are United event at the STACK outside St James' Park on November 23. The club has invited supporters to "hear updates on the club's direction, priorities and ambitions," with questions to be submitted to the club's top brass.
Fans seek answers on trophies and stadium
The event comes nearly 12 months after Hopkinson and Wilson's first appearance at the same venue, where Hopkinson told supporters - seated just yards from the Carabao Cup - that he wanted to be 'surrounded by trophies'. However, silverware has been elusive, with Newcastle's Carabao Cup defence unsuccessful last season and the club already eliminated from the competition this term. Realistically, the FA Cup remains the only trophy available to the club in 2027.
Fans will likely be more eager for a stadium update from Hopkinson, as the future of St James' Park is a key topic for many supporters. It has been two years since stadium chief Brad Miller asked for a show of hands at the STACK on whether fans would prefer to 'stay or go', with the crowd suggesting they would opt for a move to a bigger venue.
Hopkinson's previous stadium comments
Hopkinson was last asked for a stadium update in August in La Manga, where he told Chronicle Live, with PIF in attendance: "No. There's a pregnant pause in that answer. You guys are dogged, your constituents want to know. And we want our stakeholders to know. But in the moment, as we're trying to conclude a transaction, is not the moment to tell people, 'Here's what we're trying to do'."
He added: "Being fully transparent about what we wanted to do with Leazes Terrace would have been diametrically opposed to being able to actually conclude that deal. We want to be transparent, but that doesn't mean we can invite everyone into every part of the strategy."
Matias Fernandez-Pardo's illness revealed
Meanwhile, the £51million man Matias Fernandez-Pardo has trained just twice since October 17 and was left out of the latest Belgium squad on his own request. Belgium chief Mark van Bommel opened up on the former Lille star's issues on Friday and said: "He was ill for a very long time. He has only trained twice since October 17. As a result, he isn't at one hundred per cent which is why he isn't part of the squad. He still doesn't feel quite right, so it was his own choice."
It remains to be seen whether the youngster is involved at Fulham later today, with his last appearance for the Magpies coming against Aston Villa last month.
Dan Burn's England future and Sean Neave's call-up
Newcastle defender Dan Burn was left out of the final England squads of 2026 after a dream year following his participation at the World Cup finals. Thomas Tuchel suggested he has not closed the door completely on Burn and other veteran stars, saying on Friday: "Now we have more choices and I had to give Dan Burn, Jordan Henderson, Dean Henderson difficult phonecalls. I am very aware of what they did for us, and they built a very strong foundation on which these players now are benefiting."
Burn has made it clear he wants to push on for the European Championships, where an England knockout game at St James' Park could unfold, but he will need to find the best form of his career to add to his 11 caps since spring 2025.
In other news, young Geordie Sean Neave grabbed two goals in the 2-1 win over Bristol City for Wolves this week, and was called up to the England Under-20s squad for their Elite League fixtures against Czechia and Portugal. He will hope to get a cap next Thursday night at Mansfield when England face Czechia under the watchful eye of Darren Moore.
