Newcastle United head coach Matthias Jaissle has held a no-holds-barred meeting with local journalists at the club's North Tyneside HQ, inviting feedback both positive and negative during the unprecedented three-week international break.
The Magpies have not played for 10 days, but the club's training ground remains active, with daily checks being made to see whether any players picked up knocks during the UEFA Nations League autumn series, which has faced a wave of criticism. The new season had barely begun before the three-week pause disrupted Premier League squads across the country.
Joelinton and Gonzalez back in training
At an open training session, Joelinton was back to work and looking in good physical shape, powering home headers and hurling balls around in a basketball and head tennis exercise, while Nico Gonzalez has overcome his concussion issues. There was no sign of Dan Burn, Amar Dedic or Jacob Ramsey, but nothing to suggest they have suffered setbacks.
The session, which lasted about 10 minutes in front of the cameras, showed the mood in the camp was good. Standard setters such as Joelinton, Jacob Murphy and Joe Willock showed their authority on the training ground, with Murphy at one stage slamming down the ball and screaming 'play to the whistle' to team-mates.
A far cry from the past
Jaissle held his frank chat with journalists in the same room where former boss Joe Kinnear once blew his top with reporters. Much has changed since Kinnear swore 53 times in his opening press conference, but the four walls are still standing. Mike Ashley has long gone, and PIF have decked the room out with modern interior, while the training ground has had over £15m pumped into getting the club up to speed with rivals.
Since Jaissle was appointed in early August, it has been game after game and press conference after press conference, but it was his response that summoned a meeting with the local media. Jaissle, who will also stage a virtual call with members in the next 24 hours, is eager to fully understand the community he is serving. It won't guarantee wins on the board in the Premier League, but he can't be accused of not trying.
