The 4-1 scoreline in Newcastle United's first friendly in Japan was quite deceptive as Urawa Reds gave Eddie Howe's men a good run out in Tokyo.
Jacob Murphy bagged a brace while Alexander Isak and Lewis Hall also got themselves on the score sheet in the baking night-time heat in Saitama, just outside Tokyo.
Murphy may well have grabbed the headlines with his two goals, but special mention ought to be made of Joe Willock who was heavily involved in both of Newcastle's goals in the first half.
It was Willock who played the through ball for Isak to run on to and score in the third minute, and a brilliant, determined tackle and run into the area that provided Murphy with his opening goal on the stroke of half time.
After a season which was dominated by injuries for Willock, it's great to not only see him back and looking fit, but also back looking dangerous.
We missed Willock so much last season, his drive and ability to inject a bit of life into the attack. Even when he did play he never looked anywhere near his usual self, but in 45 minutes out in Japan, we saw a glimpse of the old Willock.
This is something that his good mate, Alexander Isak was very pleased to see with the Swedish striker saying that Willock is unique in what he brings to Newcastle's team.
Speaking to NUFC TV after the game, Isak said how he was really pleased to have Willock back in the side.
"I'm very happy. Very pleased for him, he's been struggling and he's been working very hard to get back. So I'm happy to have him back out there and hopefully he can stay fit because he's going to be very important for the team.
"He has qualities that's very different from the rest of the squad, the way he can carry the ball up the pitch. He has the quality to combine and create chances. He's very important for us and hopefully we can have him for the whole season."
PL | GD | PTS | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Liverpool
|
10 | 13 | 25 |
2 |
Manchester City
|
10 | 10 | 23 |
3 |
Nottingham Forest
|
10 | 7 | 19 |
4 |
Arsenal
|
10 | 6 | 18 |
5 |
Aston Villa
|
9 | 5 | 18 |
6 |
Chelsea
|
9 | 8 | 17 |
7 |
Brighton
|
10 | 3 | 16 |
8 |
Bournemouth
|
10 | 1 | 15 |
9 |
Newcastle United
|
10 | 0 | 15 |
10 |
Tottenham Hotspur
|
9 | 8 | 13 |
11 |
Brentford
|
9 | 0 | 13 |
12 |
Fulham
|
9 | 0 | 12 |
13 |
Manchester United
|
9 | -3 | 11 |
14 |
West Ham United
|
10 | -6 | 11 |
15 |
Leicester
|
10 | -4 | 10 |
16 |
Everton
|
10 | -7 | 9 |
17 |
Crystal Palace
|
10 | -5 | 7 |
18 |
Ipswich
|
10 | -11 | 5 |
19 |
Southampton
|
10 | -12 | 4 |
20 |
Wolves
|
10 | -13 | 3 |