Eddie Howe is hopeful that Newcastle United can bring in a new signing soon after their resounding 4-1 win over Urawa Reds in Japan on Wednesday.
Alexander Isak opened the scoring early on before Rio Nitta levelled for the J. League side. Nick Pope then saved a penalty before Jacob Murphy scored a brace, netting either side of half-time.
Lewis Hall then rounded off the scoring just after the hour mark to ensure Newcastle made it two wins from two in pre-season.
Howe was keen to protect his players during the game as Isak was removed early on, but he was also forced to play Joelinton in defence for the final 10 minutes without a ready replacement.
Newcastle are looking to expand their squad depth, and when asked about transfer plans, Howe gave a small hint that someone could be coming soon.
"I hope so, but I have no idea how close things are," Howe said after the game.
"I hope so. We are working hard to make things happen."
Newcastle beat Hull City 2-0 in their opening pre-season match on Saturday and are currently in Japan for their tour.
The Magpies will face Yokohama before flying home to host Girona and Brest at St. James' Park, and Howe was pleased with what he saw in their second friendly as they step up their preparations for the new Premier League season.
"I thought it was a good game and good conditions to improve our fitness levels," he added.
"It was a little bit cooler at kick-off but still a hot and humid day. It has certainly helped the players, but we still have lots to improve on. I thought mentally we could not complain about the players."
Stephen McClaren appointed Reggae Boyz Head Coach
The Jamaica Football Federation has appointed Stephen McClaren as the Head coach of the senior Reggae Boyz with a two-year contract aimed at securing qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
JFF president Michael Ricketts expressed great optimism about the appointment.
“We are truly elated to announce the appointment of Mr. McClaren as Head Coach of the Reggae Boyz. We are confident we made the right decision, and we are looking forward to him guiding our nation towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” Ricketts said.
McClaren also expressed great excitement of taking charge of the Reggae Boyz.
“I am extremely proud and excited to take up the position of Head coach for The Jamaica Men’s National Team. I had no hesitation in accepting a position that is ideally suited to me at this stage of my career,” McClaren noted.
“Prior to returning to Manchester United for a second spell, I spent time at FIFA as a Technical Advisor on their Global Eco Analysis project. Jamaica was one of the teams I worked with and I quickly came to realize the potential the country possessed. In the years since, that potential has grown significantly and there is every reason to believe that with continued hard work and development a bright future lies ahead,” he added.
McClaren's coaching career includes significant achievements with Manchester United, the England National team, and clubs like Middlesbrough F.C. and FC Twente.
The Reggae Boyz will commence their campaign in the 2024/2025 edition of the CONCACAF Nations League on September 6 against Cuba at the National Stadium.
This Nations League cycle will also serve as a qualifier for the 2025 edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Further details about McClaren's first press conference will be announced later.
Hayes maintains unbeaten Olympics start as United States top Group B
Emma Hayes' unbeaten record as the United States head coach continued as her side remained perfect following their 2-1 win over Australia in Group B.
Hayes, who took charge of the USWNT in May, has won six of her seven games at the helm, conceding just twice in that time.
The USA, along with Spain, are the only two sides to win all of their games at the Paris Olympics so far and will have great confidence heading into the knockout stages.
Trinity Rodman's second goal of the tournament two minutes from half-time sent them on their way, as Korbin Albert's 77th-minute strike saw her become the the youngest substitute scorer for the USA at the Olympics since Mallory Swanson against Colombia in 2016.
Alanna Kennedy's late strike would take some of the shine off an otherwise impressive display, but the United States dominated from the first whistle.
Hayes' side accumulated an expected goals (xG) of 2.82 from the 21 shots they had compared to Australia's 0.46, ending the match with 71.7% possession.
The United States will face Japan in the quarter-finals of the tournament, while Australia face a nervous wait to see if they qualify as one of the best third-placed teams.
In the other Group B encounter, Germany confirmed their place in the knockout stages alongside the United States following a comfortable 4-1 win over Zambia.
Lea Schuller opened the scoring in the 10th minute, with Klara Buhl adding the Germans second of the afternoon shortly after the restart.
Zambia captain Barbra Banda threatened to make the encounter a more difficult affair with her fourth goal of the tournament two minutes later.
But Schuller and Elisa Senß would add further gloss to the performance soon after to secure second place in the group.
Germany's triumph sets up a meeting with the runners-up of Group A, which could be either one of Colombia, France, Canada or New Zealand.
TTFA parts ways with Angus Eve; search on for new Head coach
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) executive is now on the hunt for a new head coach to pilot their senior men's national team after parting ways with Angus Eve.
This move may come as a surprise to many, as the TTFA, while under the watch of a Normalisation Committee, extended Eve's stay in September 2023 to March 2024, but later pushed it further to 2025.
Eve, 52, was appointed head coach in September 2021 after taking over on an interim basis from Terry Fenwick in February 2021.
"We sincerely thank Coach Eve for his dedication, hard work, and contributions to our football program. His commitment and passion for the game have been greatly appreciated," the TTFA stated in a media release.
"Moving forward, the TTFA will commence the search for a new head coach who can lead our national team to greater heights. Our focus is firmly set on the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. We recognize the importance of having a clear pathway for qualification, which requires the full support of the government, private sector, and citizens," the release added.
The TTFA stressed its dedication to fostering a strong and vibrant football culture in Trinidad and Tobago, adding that it is committed to enhancing the football infrastructure, developing youth programs, and ensuring competitive performance at all levels.
"Achieving our goals will require a total buy-in from corporate entities, government bodies, and the general public," the media release declared.
"We reaffirm our commitment to the overall development of football in our nation and will continue to work diligently towards creating opportunities and providing the necessary resources for our players, coaches, and supporters," it ended.
The TTFA thanked Eve for his service and contribution and wished him well on his future endeavors.
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